Oceania Cup : 2019 (Group A)

This is a new competition announced by the RLIF in 2018. Why a Northern Hemisphere equivalent hasn't been arranged smacks of RL ineptitude. Anyway, we should be grateful for small mercies. For the Oceania Cup, there are six teams in two groups. Here are the results for Group A.

Group A

22 June: NZ vs Tonga Auckland, NZ

The Tongan fans made it a great occasion but it was the Kiwis that shone. The hosts took a 16-4 half time lead and went on to win well. S Johnson scored a hat-trick of tries in a fine display.

Final score: NZ 34-14 Tonga. (Crowd 23,600).

25 October: Australia vs NZ Wollongong, Australia

it was tight for a quarter of the match before Australia started to gain ascendancy and took a 12-4 lead into the half time team talk. it was tight again in the second period but Australia kept picking up long range tries and in the end won without too much fuss.

Final score: Australia 26-4 NZ. (Crowd 18,100).

2 November: Australia vs Tonga Auckland, NZ

Australia expected a hard game but not having lost to Tonga or any lower tier nation before, it would be a huge upset if they didn't win. Tonga took an early lead 6-0 but was 12-6 at the break to Australia. It was in the second stanza that Tonga came back strongly and took a lead in the 53rd minute. Australia was unable to find a way back and a monumental win was secured by the Island nation.

Final score: Tonga 16-12 Australia. (Crowd 25,300).

	Oceania Cup
	Group A		W	L	Pt	PD	Results
	1	Australia	1	1	2	+18	NZ	34-14	Tonga
	2	NZ	1	1	2	-2	Australia	26-4	NZ
	3	Tonga	1	1	2	-16	Tonga	16-12	Australia