Veteran player Michael Jennings made a significant impact by scoring three tries as the Vodafone Fiji Bati defeated the Cook Islands with an impressive score of 56-6 in their second match of the NRL Pacific Bowl Championship held in Suva.
The Cook Islands initially took the lead with a try from Rua Ngatikaura. However, Fiji quickly responded, showcasing their skills with four tries of their own. Sunia Turuva opened the scoring for Fiji, followed by Jennings, who added two more tries. Kitione Kautoga capped off a strong first half performance, with Taane Milne successfully converting all attempts, giving Fiji a commanding 24-6 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Fiji dominate completely, scoring six additional tries against the Cook Islands’ defense. The scorers included Semi Valemei, who netted two tries, along with Maika Sivo, Jennings, and Ben Nakubuwai. Milne had an outstanding game, amassing 230 meters, along with seven conversions and three crucial offloads.
This victory leaves the Fiji Bati still in contention for the Pacific Bowl and the chance for promotion to the Pacific Cup in 2025. For their hopes to continue, they will need the Cook Islands to secure a win against Papua New Guinea in the third week of the tournament.
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