Scotland secure miracle win over Fiji

Scotland pulled off an incredible 18-16 late victory over highly-fancied Fiji at Bluetongue Stadium tonight to claim their country’s first ever rugby league World Cup win in five attempts.

Wakefield prop Oliver Wilkes barged over in the 76th minute to level scores before captain Danny Brough kept his perfect goalkicking record in tact with a left-footed conversion for victory.

But the Bravehearts had to withstand a frenetic final few minutes before securing a courageous win in front of a crowd of 9,720 fans.

Despite the narrow defeat Fiji still finish top of Pool 2 and will face Ireland in a playoff for the semi-finals at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Monday with the winner to face Australia.

Scotland jump to second in the pool and will play Tonga in Rockhampton on Saturday while France will play Samoa at CUA Stadium on Sunday after the islanders lost top place of Pool 3 with a heavy 34-16 defeat to Ireland tonight.

Scotland led 12-4 at half time but that was quickly eroded as lock Jason Bukuya scored in the 43rd minute with the help of four defenders to pull the deficit back to just two points.

The Fijians looked to have secured the win when sustained dominance led to winger Semi Tadulala’s second try of the night in the 73rd minute.

But while the Fijians started the game with a prayer it was Scotland who received the miracle as they won the ball from a short re-start and charged down field to score a try and secure their first win since entering the World Cup in 2000.

Scotland fullback Michael Robertson gave his side a surprise lead at the break when he touched down in the final minute of the first half after Brough’s chip kick ricocheted off the uprights.

Winger Jon Steel scored Scotland’s first try in the sixth minute after man of the match Ian Henderson ran down the blindside.

Fiji centre Sevanai Koroi was dragged down short of the line in the 22nd minute but set up his side’s first try with a brilliant offload for Tadulala to score his first try of the night in the corner.

While there was plenty of ugly football in the contest, the worst of it came when Henderson and Bukuya traded haymakers in the 35th minute after an incident in the play-the-ball.

Scotland coach Steve McCormack was ecstatic his side pulled off the win when few had given the Bravehearts any chance to beat the Fijians.

“We were described as minnows and no chance and we took that personally,” said McCormack.

“We have created a little bit of history tonight with Scotland’s first ever win at a World Cup.

“To come back from being down and out is a fantastic effort.

“We did it tough but I could not be a prouder coach tonight.”

Fiji captain Wes Naiqama was disappointed with the result but impressed with the way his men battled having only played France four days ago.

“Definitely disappointed with the outcome of tonight’s match,” said Naiqama.

“But saying that our short term goal was to finish top of the pool and we were successful in that.”

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