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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 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 |
| 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 |
Phase one The nine teams were grouped into three pools of three.
| 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 |
28 September 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Grant Wharehoka |
| 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 |
28 September 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell |
| 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] |
28 September 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Leon Williamson |
| 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 |
30 September 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Mike Ropata |
| 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] |
30 September 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Tony Portland |
30 September 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Warwick Freeman |
| Great Britain |
54 - 0 | Tonga |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 10[lower-greek 1] 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] |
2 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell |
| 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] |
2 October 2003 |
Marist Rugby Grounds Referee: Grant Wharehoka |
| 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 |
2 October 2003 |
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]
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).
| 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 |
4 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell |
| 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 |
4 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Grant Wharehoka |
4 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] |
6 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Carey Smith |
| 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 |
6 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Warwick Freeman |
6 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell |
| 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] |
8 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Leon Williamson |
8 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Glen Wilson |
8 October 2003 |
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 [15]
| 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 |
10 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Warwick Freeman |
10 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Sharlene Strawbridge |
Bowl Final
12 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Mike Ropata |
Plate Final
| 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 |
12 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Grant Wharehoka |
| 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 |
10 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Leon Williamson |
| 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 |
10 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Carey Smith |
| 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 |
12 October 2003 |
North Harbour Stadium Referee: Adrian Purnell |
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]
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