Bulikula closes in on World Cup spot

Nigeria now stands in the way of the Fiji Bulikula as they get close to securing their spot in next year's Women's Rugby League World Cup. This was after Bulikula ended Cana­da Raven's World Cup hopes with a big 48-0 win in Ottawa yester­day.

It was a hard-hitting affair at Terry Fox Stadium, with Cana­da's defence putting in a first-half shift against a powerful Fijian side boasting eight players from Australia's elite National Rugby League Women's Premiership (NRLW) competition.

But the Pa­cific Islanders kept coming, mak­ing the most of their physical for­wards and elusive backs. A tiring Canadian defence sur­rendered 36 points on seven sec-ond-half tries.

The 16th-ranked Fijians will face No. 17 Nigeria in Sunday's final of the International Rugby League (IRL) Women's Rugby League World Series with the winner be­coming the eighth and last team in next year's World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Earlier on Nigeria, on tries by Fedelia Omoghan and Rachel Ili­ya, defeated No. 8 ranked Ireland 10-0 in the first play-off.The 10th-ranked Canada Ravens will play Ireland also on Sunday for third place.

Bulikula head coach Joe Dakui­toga said his side are determined to ensure their trip to Canada yields success.

"We have prepared well because we need that spot in the World Cup," Dakuitoga said.

"We saw the first upset of the day, when Nigeria beat Ireland. We meet Nigeria in the final so may the best team win and qualify for the World Cup next year."

The Canadian women made the 2017 and 2021 World Cups but the qualifying process was more ar­duous this time.

Maria Paseka scored three tries while Isabella Waterman, Sienna Laing and Tahlia Marshall each scored two, and Cassie Staples added a single try for Fiji, which led 12-0 at the half.

Fiji also booted four conversions. Fiji threatened early, spending time deep in the Canadian end.

The Canadian defence held firm with Fiji not helping its cause with several handling errors near the Canadian goal-line. Fiji finally broke through in the 18th minute with Waterman capping off an attack started from a scrum following a Canadian knock-on in its own end.

Marshall made it 8-0 four minutes later, touching down in the corner as the Fijians continued to make metres.

A Canadian penalty for a high tackle in its own end set the stage for Fiji's third try by Paseka as they 12-0.

Fiji added two tries each from Laing and Paseka plus singles by Staples, Waterman and Marshall in the second half.

"Everyone wants to play in the World Cup so Canada was pre­pared to give us a hard game and they gave us a hard game," Dakui­toga said.

"Fortunately, we managed to come through in the first game and we are looking forward to the next game against Nigeria.

"For us we will just go back to process to see the weaknesses we had today and try to improve on that. "We will work on our structure and prepare ourselves against Ni­geria."