Australia beat Fiji 30-14 to reach Women's Rugby League World Cup final
Australia have reached the Women's Rugby League World Cup final after beating Fiji 30-14 in Sydney on Sunday. The win sends the holders into a fifth successive final, and they are chasing a fourth straight title.
It was not a comfortable start for the favourites. Fiji, playing in the World Cup for the first time, took an 8-0 lead and were still level at 8-8 at half-time. BBC Sport reported that Australia then pulled clear in the second half.
The try-scorers were led by Abbi Church, who crossed four times. Upton and Chapman each added one, and Kelleher kicked three goals. In league, a try is worth four points and is the main way to score. A goal, worth two points, is kicked from the same spot after a try, or from a penalty awarded for a foul.
The semi-final was played at the Sydney Football Stadium, and it was a game that rewarded patience. Fiji had shown they could hurt Australia early. The second half was where the holders' depth told, as they kept the ball moving and turned pressure into points.
Australia's final opponent will be New Zealand, who meet them in Brisbane. The match kicks off at 05:10 GMT on Sunday 15 November, which is 3.10pm local time in Brisbane. It is the sort of fixture that rugby league fans on both sides of the Tasman will be watching closely.
For Fiji, the result ends a debut campaign that the scoreline suggests they can take real encouragement from. Their early lead showed how they can unsettle a side that has dominated this tournament. For Australia, the job is now to repeat their semi-final performance on the biggest stage, against a New Zealand side still to be tested in the final itself.
