Bati head coach Wise Kativerata said it was good to get the win. 26 October 2024 Photo: Facebook / NRL
Two hat-tricks scored by two individual players sent the Fiji Bati and Fiji Bulikula marching on with hopes of getting into the top positions in the Pacific Bowls rugby league championship.
Formner Kanagroo and Mate Ma'a Tonga international Michael Jennings scored a hat-trick, his first in the Bati colours, to help the Fijians defeat Cook islands 56-6 in Suva on Saturday night.
That performance followed a similar feat displayed by former Fijiana Drua and NRLW Cowboys winger Vitalina Naikore against the Cook islands women's side on the same afternoon.
Naikore proved a threat for the Cook islanders every time she had the ball in hand and dotted down three times for the Fiji Bulikula in their 18-6 win, keeping the team's hopes of winning a World Cup spot alive.
The wins brought smiles to the faces of local fans who last weekend went home disappointed after the Bati lost to the PNG Kumuls in the first round.
It also meant now both the Bati and the Bulikula have their hopes of advancing confirmed.
But the Bati will have to wait for next weekend's result when Cook islands face the Kumuls in PNG in the men's third round of matches.
If the Cook islanders win big that will give the Bati an advantage over the Kumuls.
If the Kumuls win then both Fiji and the Cook Islands will wait for 2025 while the PNG side will advance into the promotion relegation series against the bottom placed team from the Pacific Cup competition.
The Bati proved too strong for their opponents in front of around 5000 fans at home in Laucala. 26 October 2024 Photo: Facebook / NRL
Bati win big
The Bati proved too strong for their opponents in front of around 5000 fans at home in Laucala, with senior players like Jennings, captain Tui Kamikamica, Viliame Kikaiu, Pantherns NRL Premiership winner Sunia Turuva and Maika Sivo taking control and setting the tempo.
But the visitors registered first blood when Rua Ngatikaura weaved his way through the traffic two meters out to score.
Turuva took two defenders over the line to score and Taane Milne's conversion brought Fiji back into the game straight away, before Jennings scored his first try for the Bati.
Former NRL premiership winner Kikau then set up Jennings for his second try before Kitione Kautoga touched down for the Bati again as they led 24-6 at halftime.
Cowboys winger Semi Valemei, Jennings, Ben Nakubuwai, Sivo twice, then Valemei again registered tries for the Bati in the second half as Cook islands could not stop the onslaught.
Head coach Wise Kativerata said it was good to get the win but hopes it is not too late, with his and the Bati's hope hinging on the Cook Islands winning in Port Moresby next weekend.
He said defense and cutting down the mistakes were critical.
"Full credit to Tui (captain) and the boys for their defense," he said after the game.
Kamikamica said the boys stayed focus on what they learned.
"The boys did not dwell on the loss to the Kumuls during the week but focused on what needed to be done," Kamikamica said.
"It was a bit of arm wrestle in the first five to ten minutes but once we were disciplined with the footy we were able to score some points and credit to the boys for the effort."
Cook Islands captain Brad Takairangi said the Bati just took the game out of their hands, despite his team's efforts to keep in the game.
"We started well. But once the Bati started playing well they took the game, full credit to them," he said.
Bulikula get one win in
Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday the Bulikula had kicked off their campaign with Naikore's hattrick leading them to their first win in the competition.
The win means the Bulikula will meet Samoa in Auckland on November 2 in the final.
The winner gets into the 2025 World Cup, while the runner-up gets into a play-off with other teams from around the globe.
Cooks opened the scoring with a try to prop Kerehitina Matua, after Naikore had given the visitors another set of six.
The Bulikula responded through captain Talei Holmes before Naikore sneaked in the corner for their second try.
That was cleverly set up by halfback, Losana Lutu.
Cook Islands pressured the Bulikula but the home side hung to go for the break leading 10-16 on the scoreboard.
Naikore then claimed her second try before ending the game with her third, showing her speed out wide to score and give the Bulikula the right to march on to Auckland next weekend.
Bulikula captain Holmes said their plan was to keep their defense tight and tire down the Cook Islands players.
"We knew they were going to tire down and we needed to keep our d tight. We knew we could do it," she said.
Holmes said she was proud of Naikore and her performance, also praising the team's effort.
The Bulikula will meet Samoa women in the curtain-raiser to the Mate Ma'a Tonga vs Kiwis clash at Mount Smart Stadium next Saturday.