# 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.

## Teams

| Team | Appearance | Nickname | Coach | 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 Result | 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 Australian Scorers | 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 Result | |
* 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 Result | Tries: 4 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 Result | |
* North Harbour Stadium Referee: Tony Portland
* 30 September 2003
| Tonga | 4 - 44 | Samoa |
| Tries: 1 S Pasikala Goals: nil | Scorers Result | 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 Stacey Greenwood 3 Nicola Simpson 3 Lindsay Anfield Stacey Doherty Sally Milburn Renee Gregorie Goals: 7 Natalie Parsons 7 | HT: 28-0 Report Scorers Result | |
* 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 Result | |
* 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 Scorers | 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).
* ↑ 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 Scorers | 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 Scorers Result Result | 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 Result | 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 | |
* 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 Scorers | 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 Scorers | 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 Result | |
* 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 Scorers | 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 Scorers | 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 (one 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
* 10 October 2003
| Cook Islands | 18 - 12 | Tokelau |
| Tries: 4 M Tuarae 2 S Utanga A Parai Goals: 1 A Parai | Scorers Result | 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 Result | 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 Result | 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 Result | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
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.