Australia’s Jillaroos made extremely light work of Papua New Guinea in Monday’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final, hammering the Orchids 82-0 in York to reach Saturday’s Old Trafford final.
Isabelle Kelly led the way for Brad Donald’s side, going over for a first-half hat-trick as the Aussies opened up a point-a-minute 40-0 half-time lead. And they only became more dominant after the break as a total of 10 different Jillaroos made their way over for tries, with Emma Tonegato claiming a treble.
The two-time defending champions will take on the winners of Monday night’s second semi-final between England and New Zealand when the competition comes to a head in Manchester on Saturday.
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The Orchids were Australia’s equals for the first nine minutes but then Keeley Davis charged into the PNG line from dummy half and escaped the tacklers to open the scoring. And before long the Jillaroos were taking charge, with Kelly getting on the end of two passing moves to the left edge and Shaylee Bent breaking through the line for a fourth try after Lauren Brown’s clever step made space.
Evania Pelite shrugged off the cover defence to add another on the next set, and when PNG dropped the ball from the base of the scrum when given a rare chance to attack Shenae Ciesiolka finished off another Jillaroos break from deep. Olivia Kernick added her name to the scoresheet, and it was Kelly who wrapped up the first-half scoring with her hat-trick try.
Emma Tonegato goes over for the Jillaroos who are looking unstoppable in attack.
#RLWC2021 #AUSPNG | @AusJillaroos @bbcsport
Kelly turned provider when sending in Jess Sergis for the opening score of the second period and Ciesiolka had a second soon after a PNG error deep in their own half. Tallisha Harden finished off a sweeping move for try number 11, then Tonegato – starting at full-back in the place of Jillaroos co-captain Sam Bremner – scored a quickfire brace.
After a period of PNG pressure on the Australia line, including one video referee referral that went against the Orchids, Jaime Chapman broke through a tackle 10 metres from her own line and ran unopposed to the line for 76-0. Tonegato outstripped the tiring PNG defence to take her to a hat-trick and complete an absolute trouncing.
Whoever the Jillaroos now face at Old Trafford will know that the world champions look as formidable as ever heading to the final.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change