2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup

The 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup was the second staging of the Women's Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held in Auckland, New Zealand from 28 September, culminating in the final between New Zealand and New Zealand Maori on 12 October. It was held at North Harbour Stadium and the nearby Marist Rugby ground. Nine teams took part Australia, Great Britain, Tokelau, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, New Zealand Maori and New Zealand. The initial format was three pools of three, with the top six teams moving into two subsequent pools of three. The top four teams then contested elimination semi-finals.^[1][2]

2003 (2003) Women's World Cup  ()
Number of teams	9
Host country	New Zealand
Winner	New Zealand (2nd title)
Runner-up	Maori
Matches played	25
Points scored	1146 (45.84 per match)
Tries scored	239 (9.56 per match)
Top scorer	Trish Hina 82 (T:9 G:23)
Top try scorers	Honey Hireme 10 Fuarosa Time 10
Tournaments  < 2000 2008 >

Teams

Main article: 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup squads

Team	Appearance	Nickname	Coach^[2]	Captain
Australia	2nd	Jillaroos	Dave Leat	Karyn Murphy
Cook Islands	1st	Moana	Tom Bishop	Debbie Dorman
Great Britain	2nd	Lionesses	Jackie Sheldon	Brenda Dobek
New Zealand	2nd	Kiwi Ferns	Lawrence Brydon	Luisa Avaiki
New Zealand Māori	1st	Wahine Toa	Greg Brown	Kellie Kiwi
Niue	1st		Meke Lokeni
Samoa	1st	Fetu Samoa	George Apelii Tuimaseve
Tokelau	1st		Tony Lajpold
Tonga	1st	Mate Ma'a Tonga Womens		Celestyana (Tiana) Valu

Matches

Phase one The nine teams were grouped into three pools of three.

28 September 2003

Great Britain	28 - 12	Samoa
Tries: 5 Natalie Parsons 2 Becky Jones 2 Sally Milburn Goals: 4 Brenda Dobek 4	Scorers^[3] Result^[4]^[5]	Tries: 3 H Tuimavave T Elisara L Tuioti Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Grant Wharehoka

28 September 2003

New Zealand Māori	24 - 28	Australia
Tries: 6 R Wikeepa 2 A Waikai 2 C Stainton Rochelle Potaka Goals: nil	Result^[4] Australian Scorers^[6]	Tries: 5 Leah Williams 2 Erin Elliott Caryl Jarrett Roslyn Simpson Goals: 4 Tracey Thompson 4

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell

28 September 2003

New Zealand	68 - 0	Cook Islands
Tries: 15 Tamaku Paul 4 Honey Hireme 3 Marion Heather 2 Tessa Te Kahu 2 Cynthia Ta'ala Mere Baker Trish Hina Nadene Conlon Goals: 4 Marion Heather 2 Trish Hina Teasha Leka	Scorers^[3] Result^[7]

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Leon Williamson

30 September 2003

Cook Islands	30 - 16	Tokelau
Tries: 7 C Marsters 2 A Tikinau A Parai T Larkins E Mani T Vano Goals: 1 C Marsters	Scorers^[3] Result^[8]	Tries: 4^[1] M Wilson L Baker J Lenusio A Pedro Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Mike Ropata

30 September 2003

New Zealand Māori	44 - 0	Niue
Tries: 9 P Hohepa 2 R Wikeepa N Emery A Turner J Puitau Vicki Letele Rochelle Potaka H Timu Goals: 4 I Whakatihi 2 Rochelle Potaka 2	Scorers^[3] Result^[8]

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Tony Portland

30 September 2003

Tonga	4 - 44	Samoa
Tries: 1 S Pasikala Goals: nil	Scorers^[3] Result^[8]	Tries: 11 H Tuimavave 5 Jean Oti 2 A Levi M Laumatia L Fa'apito T Malaitai Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Warwick Freeman

2 October 2003

Great Britain	54 - 0	Tonga
Tries: 10^[α] Stacey Greenwood 3 Nicola Simpson 3 Lindsay Anfield Stacey Doherty Sally Milburn Renee Gregorie Goals: 7 Natalie Parsons 7	HT: 28-0 Report^[9] Scorers^[3] Result^[10]^[5]

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell

2 October 2003

New Zealand	84 - 0	Tokelau
Tries: 17 Fuarosa Time 6 Selena Te Amo 3 Marion Heather 2 Kelly Leota 2 Laura Mariu Mere Baker Trish Hina Nadene Conlon Goals: 8 Sarai Sue 6 Kelly Leota 2	HT: 48-0 Scorers^[3] Result^[10]

Marist Rugby Grounds Referee: Grant Wharehoka

2 October 2003

Australia	58 - 0	Niue
Tries: 11 Rebecca Tavo 4 Caryl Jarrett 1 Tracey Thompson 1 Roslyn Simpson 1 Katrina Fanning 1 Leah Williams 1 Tahnee Norris 1 Lisa Holder 1 Goals: 7 Tracey Thompson 7	HT: 32-0 Scorers^[3] Scorers^[11]	Tries: nil Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Mike Ropata

Great Britain (two wins) led Samoa (one win) and Tonga in their pool. Australia (two wins) led Māori (one win) and Niue. New Zealand (two wins) led the Cook Islands (one win) and Tokelau. Standinsgs after the first phase were New Zealand (1st, 4 points, +140 differential), Great Britain 4 (2nd, 4, +70), Australia (3rd, 4, +62), New Zealand Māori (4th, 2, +40), Samoa (5th, 2, +24), Cook Islands (6th, 2, -50), Tokelau (7th, 0, -90), Tonga (8th, 0, -94) and Niue (9th, 0, -101).^[9]

1. The League Express match report has Nicola Simpson scoring 3 tries and Dannielle Titterington not scoring. The NZRL Almanack has Nicola Simmpson scoring 2 tries and Dannielle Titterington scoring one try.

Phase two The three teams without a win in the first phase were placed in the same pool. Samoa (5th after phase one) joined Australia (3rd) and New Zealand (1st) in a pool. The other pool included Great Britain (2nd), Māori (4th) and Cook Islands (6th).

4 October 2003

New Zealand	44 - 4	Australia
Tries: 10 Luisa Avaiki 2 Cynthia Ta'ala 2 Marion Heather 2 Lovey Tawhai Tamaku Paul Tafele Chan Ting Lorena Papalii Goals: 2 Marion Heather 2	Report^[12] Scorers^[3]	Tries: 1 Tarah Westera Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell

4 October 2003

New Zealand Māori	10 - 8	Great Britain
Tries: 2 R Wikeepa Vicki Letele Goals: 1 P Hohepa	HT: 6-4 Report ^[9] Scorers^[3] Result^[13] Result^[6]	Tries: 2 Natalie Parsons Stacey Greenwood Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Grant Wharehoka

4 October 2003

Tokelau	28 - 4	Tonga
Tries: 6 M Wilson J Finau O Pereira L Baker P Puka A Pedro Goals: 2 N Silau	Scorers^[3] Result^[13]	Tries: 1 V Toluta'u Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium

6 October 2003

New Zealand	84 - 0	Samoa
Tries: 16 Trish Hina 5 Fuarosai Time 3 Honey Hireme 3 Tamakau Paul 2 Leah Witehira 1 Luisa Avaiki 1 Khadine Pohatu 1 Goals: 10 Trish Hina 10	HT: 34-0 Scorers^[11]

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Carey Smith

6 October 2003

Great Britain	20 - 20	Cook Islands
Tries: 4 Stacey Greenwood 2 Sally Milburn Michelle Wood Goals: 2 Brenda Dobek	HT: 12-4 Fixture^[13] Scorers^[14]	Tries: 4 T Wilson 3 C Marsters Goals: 2 C Marsters A Parai

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Warwick Freeman

6 October 2003

Tokelau	14 - 22	Niue
Tries: 3 N Sootaga 2 A Pedro Goals: 1 N Silau	HT: 4-14 Fixture^[13] Scorers^[14]	Tries: 5 C Fanamanu 2 S Comer J Piaso S Ikifitu Goals: 1 O Bloomfield

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell

8 October 2003

New Zealand Māori	46 - 0	Cook Islands
Tries: 10 H Timu 2 M Emery 2 A Waikai 2 K Klay K Kiwi A Turner H Taute Goals: 3 Rochelle Potaka 2 K Kiwi	Scorers^[3] Result^[15]

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Leon Williamson

8 October 2003

Niue	14 - 14	Tonga
Tries: 3 S Comer S Aisoli S Fanokehe Goals: 1 D Bloomfield	HT:14-0 Scorers^[16] Scorers^[17]	Tries: 3 O Moimoi S Alatini W Fisilau Goals: 1 S Alatini

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Glen Wilson

8 October 2003

Australia	40 - 12	Samoa
Tries: 7 Tarah Westera 2 Teresa Anderson Karyn Murphy Karley Banks Leah Williams Neena Fraser Goals: 6 Tracey Thompson 6	HT: 20-12 Scorers^[16] Scorers^[17]	Tries: 2 T Lefale L Tuioti Goals: 2 J Oti L Tuioti

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Tony Portland

Bowl and Plate Semi-Finals
The New Zealand - Australia - Samoa phase two pool finished in that order, New Zealand with two wins, Australia one and Samoa nil. The other qualifying pool finished with Māori on top with two wins, and Great Britain and Cook Islands drawing their match. Great Britain, who had a better points difference, as well as two wins to one from the phase one pools, advanced to the semi-final.
In the consolation pool, Niue (one win, one draw) led Tokelau (one win) and Tonga (on draw).
The Plate and Bowl semi-finals featured Cook Islands, Tokelau, Samoa and Niue. Curiously, the source article in Rugby League Review does not elaborate on why Tonga replaced Niue in the Bowl Final. However, Niue's point were higher so they stay in Plate category while Tonga went to Bowl ^[15]

10 October 2003

Cook Islands	18 - 12	Tokelau
Tries: 4 M Tuarae 2 S Utanga A Parai Goals: 1 A Parai	Scorers^[3] Result^[15]	Tries: 3 N Silau N Alesana T Ariu Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Warwick Freeman

10 October 2003

Samoa	24 - 18	Niue
Tries: 6 D Sipili 3 T Elisara M Sao-Filipo M Laumatia Goals: nil	Scorers^[3] Result^[15]	Tries: 4 S Comer J Piaso S Fanokehe E Telfer Goals: 1 S Fanokehe

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Sharlene Strawbridge

Bowl Final

12 October 2003

Tokelau	26 - 12	Tonga
Tries: 6 J Lenusio 2 V Toloa 2 L Baker A Teuia Goals: 1 N Silau	Scorers^[3] Result^[15]	Tries: 3 U Kaufusi 3 Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Mike Ropata

Plate Final

12 October 2003

Samoa	28-18	Cook Islands
Tries: 6 M Laumatia 2 H Tuimavave T Lefale L Tuioti Jean Oti Goals: 2 Jean Oti 2	Scorers^[3] Result^[15]	Tries: 3 A Parai D Dorman A Tikinau Goals: 3 A Parai 2 S Utanka

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Grant Wharehoka

Semi-finals

10 October 2003

New Zealand	38 - 0	Great Britain
Tries: 7 Honey Hireme 2 Fuarosai Time Tamaku Paul Trish Hina Leah Witehira Lovey Tawhai Goals: 5 Trish Hina 5	HT: 22-0 Scorers^[18]	Tries: nil Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Leon Williamson

10 October 2003

New Zealand Māori	12 - 4	Australia
Tries: 2 H Taute 2 Goals: 2 Rochelle Potaka 2	HT: 0-4 Scorers^[18]	Tries: 1 Roslyn Simpson Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Carey Smith

Final

12 October 2003

New Zealand	58 - 0	New Zealand Maori
Tries: 11 Honey Hireme 2 Selena Te Amo 2 Leah Witehira Luisa Avaiki Tamakau Paul Mere Baker Trish Hina Tessa Te Kahu Laura Mariu Goals: 7 Trish Hina 7	HT: 28-0 Report^[19]	Tries: nil Goals: nil

North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell

Team of the Tournament

At the conclusion of the tournament, the Lion Foundation World Cup Team 2003 was announced.^[3]

#	Position	Player	T	G	Pts
1	Fullback	Cynthia Ta'ala	3	0	12
2	Wing	Selena Edmonds (Te Amo)	5	0	20
3	Centre	Rebecca Tavo	4	0	16
4	Centre	Honey Hireme	10	0	40
5	Wing	Tamaku Paul	9	0	36
6	Five-eighth	Trish Hina	9	23	82
7	Halfback	Leah Witehira	3	0	12
8	Prop	Vicki Letele	2	0	8
9	Hooker	Tafale Chan Ting	1	0	4
10	Prop	Luisa Avaiki	4	0	16
11	Second-row	Nadene Conlon	2	0	8
12	Second-row	Sam Brooke	0	0	0
13	Lock	Lorina Buckley (Papali'i)	1	0	4
14	interchange	Sally Milburn	3	0	12
15	interchange	Rochelle Potaka	2	6	20
16	interchange	Tahnee Norris	2	0	8
17	interchange	Lovey Tawhi	2	0	8

The following staff were also named in the tournament team: Coach: Lawrence Brydon (NZ), Manager: Juanita Woodhouse (NZ), Trainer: Bob Vercoe (NZ)

Luisa Avaiki was named Player of the Tournament.^[3]

References

1. Gillan, Gordon (2 October 2003). "Kiwi Ferns face onslaught". New Zealand Herald. p. 15..
2. Lion Foundation Woman's Rugby League World Cup 2003. North Harbour, New Zealand: New Zealand Women's Rugby League. 2003.
3. Francis, Payne (2003). New Zealand Rugby League Almanack 2003. New Zealand Rugby Football League Inc.
4. "Scoreboard". Rugby League Week (1/10/2003). Sydney: Bauer Media Group.
5. "Parsons is predicting big things from GB". West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Counties Publications. 7 October 2003.
6. "Women's Rugby League". Rugby League Review. 1 October 2003. p. 8.
7. "Kiwi Ferns - Past Results". NZRL. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
8. "SPORT details". Daily Telegraph. 1 October 2003. p. 82.
9. "British Ladies Suffer Stetback". League Express. 6 October 2003.
10. "SPORT details". Daily Telegraph. 3 October 2003. p. 114.
11. "Scoreboard". Rugby League Week (8/10/2003). Sydney: Bauer Media Group.
12. Coffey, John (6 October 2003). "Kiwi Ferns shock coaching staff with huge win". The Press (Christchurch). p. 6.
13. Birchall, Steven (4 October 2003) [2003]. . Womens RLeague. Australian Womens Rugby League. Archived from the original on 29 November 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2020 – via Wayback Machine Internet Archive.
14. "Sport results". The Press (Christchurch). 7 October 2003. p. 4.
15. "Women's Rugby League". Rugby League Review. 1 November 2003. p. 8.
16. "SPORT details". Daily Telegraph. 9 October 2003. p. 57.
17. "Results". The Press (Christchurch). 10 October 2003. p. 11.
18. "Results". The Press (Christchurch). 13 October 2003. p. 4.
19. Coffey, John (13 October 2003). "Kiwi Ferns rule on league cup stage". The Press (Christchurch). p. 29.

External links