Oceania Cup : 2019 (Group B)

This is a new competition announced by the RLIF in 2018. The Oceania Cup, there are six teams in two groups. Here are the results for Group B.

Group B

22 June: PNG vs Samoa Sydney Australia

This was a tight encounter with Samoa leading by just 12-6 at half time. Samoa got an early lead but gradually PNG (aka the Kumuls) got back into the game. Finally in the 65th minute Samoa scored and another fortuitous try had the game secured.

Final score: Samoa 24-6 PNG. (Crowd 8,400).

2 November: Samoa vs Fiji Auckland, NZ

I expected Samoa to be too classy but it was Fiji that jumped out of the blocks in this encounter and were ahead 18-0 after just 16 minutes. By the turn around it was 30-6 and Samoa had it all to do. The second half was more even but were unable to reduce the deficit.

Final score: Fiji 44-18 Samoa. (Crowd 25,300).

9 November: PNG vs Fiji Christchurch, NZ

Fiji opened with a converted try but PNG soon had things level at 6-6. That was repeated for a 12-12 scoreline before PNG got a penalty goal to lead 14-12 at the break. In the second period Fiji got the lead only for PNG come back and lead 20-16 with just seven minutes or resumption. Fiji soon were back in front and held on for a narrow victory in an entertaining match.

Final score: Fiji 22-20 PNG.

As Australia won't be competing in Group A in 2020, that place will got to Fiji. They will join NZ and Tonga. Below are the standings

	Oceania Cup
	Group B		W	L	Pt	PD	Results
	1	Fiji	2	0	4	+28	Samoa	24-6	PNG
	2	Samoa	1	1	2	-8	Fiji	44-18	Samoa
	3	PNG	0	2	0	-20	Fiji	22-20	PNG