Kangaroos take title as Generation Next arrives in style

Women's Final: Kiwi Ferns 17 beat Australian Jillaroos 15

New Zealand are the inaugural women’s World Cup 9s champions following a tense 17-15 victory over Australia.

Jillaroos flyer Tiana Penitani opened the scoring with her fifth try of the tournament but New Zealand bettered that as player of the tournament Raecene McGregor stepped through to reach the bonus zone.

Australia fought back to take an 8-7 advantage into half-time after their co-captains combined, Ali Brigginshaw popping a smart offload for Kezie Apps to power over.

The Kiwi Ferns scored first after the break via Jules Newman before Corban McGregor gave the advantage to the Jillaroos again with a precious bonus-zone try.

But a dummy-half barge-over from Nita Maynard gave the Kiwi Ferns what turned out to be a winning lead, with goal-kicking proving the difference.

Men's semi-final: Australia 25 beat Samoa 8

Australia warded off a spirited Samoa side to claim a 25-8 win and book a date with New Zealand in the men’s World Cup 9s final.

The Kangaroos enjoyed a perfect start as Kalyn Ponga burst onto lovely pass from Wade Graham to race 40 metres for a bonus-zone try with just over a minute gone.

Samoa returned serve when Bunty Afoa showed he was a prop in a halfback’s body with a glorious 20-metre pass to gift Marion Seve four points.

Some Josh Addo-Carr magic put Australia back on top, the winger somehow scooping a bouncing ball while tip-toeing down the sideline before grubbering inside for himself to score.

Down 11-4 at half-time, Samoa needed to score first and did through the athletic Seve. But late tries to AJ Brimson and Tyson Frizell ended any hopes of an upset.

Men's semi-final: New Zealand 22 beat England 6

New Zealand became the first team through to the men’s World Cup 9s final after cruising to a 22-6 win against England.

Shaun Johnson was largely to thank for the Kiwis’ fast start. He firstly produced a try-saver on Jermaine McGillvary that jolted the ball loose, allowing Ken Maumalo to scoot away for the opening points.

Next, the mercurial playmaker perfectly summed up a blindside overlap to put Jamayne Isaako over in the corner for a 10-nil lead at the break.

Reimis Smith drove a dagger into England’s hearts with a try to start the second stanza before McGillvary latched onto a cross-field kick to get his side on the board.

There was no big fightback, however, as Isaako crossed for his sixth try of the tournament to ensure the Kiwis progressed to the decider.

Pool tables

Men's Group A

Semi-final 1: Second place finisher of Pool A v Winner of Pool B
Semi-final 2: Winner of Pool A v Winner of Pool C

Men's Group B

*Lebanon were stripped of their win over France for fielding an under-age player.

Men's Group C

Women's Group

Top two teams to play in women's final

Saturday group match results

New Zealand v England (women)

A sensational team try finished off by Kanyon Paul was the highlight of the Kiwi Ferns' 33-4 win over England which locked up a berth in the final against Australia.

All the Kiwi Ferns' big guns got their hands on the ball before Paul plunged over in the bonus zone to put New Zealand on a collision course with their arch rivals in the women's decider.

Krystal Rota opened the scoring for the Kiwis before England hit back through Amy Hardcastle but it was all New Zealand from there.

After leading 19-4 at the break the Kiwis stretched their advantage early in the second when Rota crossed wide out for her double.

Hireme then crossed for her second try to join Jillaroo Tiana Penitani as the tournament's leading try-scorer with four.

Australia v Papua New Guinea (women)

The Jillaroos continued their dominance of the World Cup 9s with a convincing 30-6 win over a brave Orchids outfit at Bankwest Stadium.

Outside backs Corban McGregor, Tiana Penitani and Shakiah Tungai capitalised on slick inside work to score in the opening term while powerful back-rower Hannah Southwell also got across the stripe before the break.

It was more of the same in the second half as Bo Vette-Walsh's long ball put Penitani in for her fourth try of the tournament.

Isabelle Kelly then capitalised in the tiring Orchids defence to cross wide out before Elsie Albert brought the crowd to its feet with a try for PNG.

The Jillaroos finished the pool matches with a total aggregate score of 94-18 and will be full of confidence heading into tonight's final.

Australia v Papua New Guinea (men)

Australia's pace and power proved too much for the PNG Kumuls in a 26-0 win as Mal Meninga's men tuned up for their blockbuster semi-final showdown with Samoa.

Rabbitohs winger Campbell Graham helped himself to a first-half double while AJ Brimson, Daly Cherry-Evans and AJ Brimson also crossed the stripe.

The match was as good as over at half-time when the Kangaroos led 18-0 but the tournament favourites could muster only two tries in the second term through Clint Gutherson and Jai Arrow.

On the injury front Nathan Brown left the field with an ankle injury and seems unlikely to play any further part in the tournament.  

New Zealand 46 defeated USA 0 (men)

New Zealand have tuned up for the World Cup 9s semi-finals with a runaway 46-0 win over the USA at Bankwest Stadium.

With playmaking maestro Shaun Johnson calling the shots the Kiwis ran in four first-half tries to blow the Hawks off the park.

Warriors winger Ken Maumalo got the scoring underway when he scored try off a lovely Kodi Nikorima pass and then it was Johnson's turn to cross the stripe when he dazzled the defence to score in the bonus zone.

Jamayne Isaako and Bailey Simonsson rounded out the scoring in the opening nine minutes as the Kiwis led 19-0 at the break.

There was a slight scare for the Kiwis when Johnson limped off early in the second half but he is expected to be fine for the semi-finals.

Even with Johnson off the field the continued to flow as Maumalo bagged four tries and New Zealand's offloads proved too much for the USA.

Samoa 24 defeated Tonga 20 (men)

Samoa are through to the World Cup 9s semi-finals after completing an unbeaten group stage with a 24-20 win over Tonga.

Tonga scored first through some inspiration from Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, who won a chase to a long kick and popped an offload to Robert Jennings. Samoa replied with some slick passing from Jarome Luai and Tim Lafai as Danny Levi found the line.

The trend continued, with Sione Katoa crossing for Tonga and Dean Blore hitting back for Samoa, before the Samoans went ahead 18-10 late in the half with Levi rolling in a grubber for Ligi Sao to touch down behind the posts.

A bullocking run from Moses Leota put the Tonga defence on the back foot, and Levi darted clear from dummy half to send Samoa 14 points clear. Some dazzling footwork from Fanitsei Niu kept Tonga within reach with a skillful solo try and a Tevita Pangai jnr effort narrowed the scores to two, but Tonga ran out of time as Samoa prevailed.

Cook Islands 12 defeated Fiji 10 (men)

Cook Islands kept their slim World Cup 9s finals hopes alive with a narrow 12-10 win over Fiji on Saturday afternoon.

Maika Tudravu opened the scoring for Fiji in spectacular circumstances, fielding a kick on his own 10 metre line then busting a whole between two defenders and running clear for a long-range solo effort.

The Cook Islands hit back in the fifth minute, spreading the ball wide for Anthony Gelling to charge over with an angled run. With both teams missing conversions – Fiji's from right in front after Tudravu's bonus-point effort – Fiji held a 5-4 advantage at the break.

Both teams traded tries early in the second half, a runaway Kevin Naiqama crossing in the bonus zone before a barnstorming Sam Mataora offloaded for Tevin Arona to score for Cook Islands. Again, neither team could land a drop-kick conversion with Fiji clinging to a two-point lead.

Brody Tamarua gave the Cook Islands the lead for the first time, dragging three defenders over the line with two minutes remaining and it was enough to secure the win.

England 38 defeated France 4 (men)

England bounced back from their shock loss to Lebanon to cruise to a 38-4 win over France and book their place in the semi-finals.

The English received a stroke of luck with the Cedars going down to Wales in their final clash of the group stage, meaning Wayne Bennett's men only required a win to advance through to the finals on points differential.

After an early try conceded to France hooker Alrix Da Costa, England hit back with three tries via Ryan Hall, Blake Austin and Ash Handley to take a 17-4 lead at half-time.

A runway effort from Ryan Sutton extended the lead as both sides came together twice for fiery exchanges. Further tries to Handley and Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead blew the scoreline out late.

Wales 25 defeated Lebanon 14 (men)

Wales recorded their first win of the World Cup 9s but it's not enough to lift them into the tournament's semi-finals.

The dominant four tries-to-two victory over the Welsh had some spite to it. The match erupted in a brawl with two minutes left to play, that saw Dan Fleming sin-binned for Wales and Travis Robinson binned for Lebanon.

It was Lebanon's first loss at Bankwest Stadium this weekend after sterling wins against France and England.

Two five-point tries to either side – Mike Butt (Wales) and Reece Robinson (Lebanon) – had these two sides level-pegging at 7-7 midway through the first half.

Welsh skipper Elliot Kear broke the deadlock with a try to give Wales a 14-7 half-time lead. Then he was the first to score in the second stanza putting his side further ahead.

After kicking three conversions, Lloyd White was finally rewarded for his support play with a try as Wales were sitting pretty 25-7. Despite a consolation try to Lebanon's Charbel Tasipale, the Welsh had done enough heavy lifting earlier.

Australia 42 defeated England 4 (women)

Australia handed a crushing seven tries-to-one win over England to remain undefeated in the World Cup 9s tournament.

Three early tries to Ali Brigginshaw, Shakiah Tungai and Corban McGregor had the Jillaroos jumping out to a 17-0 lead. England put the Australian line under a little pressure but the response was a Jess Sergis try at the other end for a healthy 23-0 advantage at the break.

Fortunes turned a little brighter for England with Georgia Wilson scoring in her second touch since coming on the field.

But McGregor and Tiana Penitani combined on the right side for Penitani's second Nines try this weekend. Penitani almost got her third but after an 80-metre run England hooker Kelsey Gentles pulled her down a metre short.

A quick play-the-ball nonetheless and Australia had its sixth try of the afternoon. Isabelle Kelly grabbed a seventh with seconds left on the clock.

Australia 41 defeated USA 11 (men)

The USA stunned Australia early in the first half with two tries, including a bonus zone seven-pointer, to skip out to a 11-4 lead, but the Kangaroos clicked into gear late to all but book their place in the semi-finals with a 41-11 win in their second pool game.

Tries to the Hawks' Ryan Burrough and Kristian Freed after an error-riddled opening from the Kangaroos had the hosts nervous momentarily until doubles to Kyle Feldt and Nathan Brown secured the 30-point win.

A runaway effort from Josh Addo-Carr, his third of the tournament, swung the momentum Australia's way midway through the first half with Brown's effort to finish off a backline movement on the stroke of half-time giving the Australians an unlikely 17-11 lead despite the USA's strong start.

Tries to Moses and Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen late blew the result out late despite a gallant effort from the inexperienced Hawks. The Kangaroos will play PNG in the final clash in Pool A.

New Zealand 18 defeated PNG 17 (men)

Canberra's Bailey Simonsson scored the match-winning try for New Zealand in a nail-biting affair against a resurgent Papua New Guinea side.

Kiwis half Shaun Johnson made his presence felt early. He put Jamayne Isaako into the clear and then backed up the Broncos winger to take the pass back inside. Johnson then danced around Kumul defenders to ground the ball beneath the posts for a five-point try.

The Kumuls had two tries disallowed in either corner for putting a foot into touch. But their first points came off the long arm of Edene Gebbie, reaching over into the black box as PNG responded with their own five-pointer to lock up scores 7-7 at half-time.

Then lead changed four times in seven minutes in the second half.

PNG edged ahead ahead through Edwin Ipape sending a flick pass to teammate Nixon Putt to score. But the Kiwis grabbed the lead back (14-13) with their second five-pointer, through Jeremy Sharshall-King this time. The Kumuls weren't done with Storm's Justin Olam scoring, but Simonsson gave the Kiwis the last laugh.

Tonga 21 defeated Fiji 17 in extra time (men)

Tonga's Robert Jennings scored to break the deadlock with Pacific neighbours Fiji in the first golden try match of the tournament.

The Wests Tigers flyer put the finishing touches on a left-edge movement to give Tonga the win and scrape back some pride after Friday night's 30-7 loss to the Cook Islands. It was another saving face exercise for Tonga after they led 17-4 against Fiji but found themselves locked up at 17-17 at the end of regular time.

In a virtual sudden-death match for both nations, scores were locked at 4-4 close to half-time after tries to Jennings (Tonga) and Selestino Ravutaumada (Fiji).

But in the shadow of the hooter to end the first half, fullback William Fakatoumafi dummied to Jason Taumalolo to crash over for Tonga to take an 8-4 lead into the break.

A typical Taumalolo rampaging run in the opening seconds of the second half, set up Tonga's third try to winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak. Then Tonga's lead stretched a little further when Sione Katoa swan-dived to score in the five-point bonus zone.

Then the Fiji revival came through tries to Penaia Leveleve and Maika Tudravu to draw scores level 17-17.

Samoa 17 defeated Cook Islands 4 (men)

The Cook Islands could not pull off a second upset win at the World Cup 9s, with Samoa having the measure of their Pacific island neighbours.

The Kukis were without barnstorming centre/forward Brad Takairangi and took 11 minutes to score their first try – a five-pointer to John Puna. They were more clunky than they exhibited in the surprise 30-7 win over Tonga on Friday night.

Samoa also made some basic handling errors early but claimed a 10-0 lead at the break through tries by Tim Lafai and Dean Blore.

They did lose Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma to a left shoulder injury though, after he made a 30-metre break upfield to set the groundwork for Jarome Luai's inside pass for Lafai.

But a five-point try to winger Marion Seve, when he ran from the north-west corner around to plant the ball in black box, stretched the lead out to beyond two converted tries.

Lebanon 16 defeated England 13 (men)

Lebanon are knocking off the giants of Europe with a 16-13 victory over England on Saturday following their 12-8 upset win over France on Friday.

The lead changed hands three times in the first half. Forward Bilal Marbani scored his third try of the Nines, when a short blindside run 10 metres out from the line reaped dividends. 

But then Dragons skipper Gareth Widdop opened England's account with his first try of the tournament, converting it for a 6-4 lead.

The Robinson brothers then combined for Travis to score from a Reece offload for Lebanon to snatch back the lead 10-6. The Cedars went further ahead through Travis Robinson's second try for 16-6 half-time lead.

A Sam Tompkins five-point try early in the second half reduced Lebanon's lead to three points (16-13), which they managed to cling onto.

France 23 defeated Wales 6 (men)

France registered their first win of the World Cup 9s with a brisk display against Wales.

The French, who lost to Lebanon on Friday night, meant business from the kick-off with centre Hakim Miloudi running straight and then across field to set up unmarked teammate Arthur Romano on the left wing. That was the first of three tries by France in the opening half, including a five-pointer to Thomas Lasvenes.

That gave France a healthy 19-0 lead at the break.

Welsh winger Regan Grace juggled the ball chasing a kick but still manage to score to give a little hope midway through the second half. But then the powerful physique of Gavin Marguerite crashed over for France's fourth try to seal the win.

New Zealand 24 beat Papua New Guinea 12 (women)

The Kiwi Ferns bounced back from the 22-8 loss to Australia on Friday night with a five-tries-to-two win over the PNG Orchids on a sunny Saturday morning to stay in the hunt for Saturday night's final.

A brace to winger Kiana Takairangi set up New Zealand's 14-6 half-time lead. She beat the Orchids for pace in her first and then benefitted from a weaving Nita Maynard run for her second.

PNG's Ua Ravu scored her second try of the tournament by running around Ferns centre Honey Hireme-Smiler but then the New Zealander made up for the error scoring a double herself either side of the break.

The Orchids were far from disgraced with the tries to Ravu and Janet Johns.

World 9s Day 1 complete wrap