Rugby League World Cup: Fiji 32-14 Ireland

Akuila Uate scored a hat-trick as Fiji got its Rugby League World Cup campaign underway with a 32-14 win over Ireland.

Fiji's pace and power proved too much for Mark Aston's side in what was, at times, a brutal encounter at a packed out Spotland.

With the top three going through to the last eight from Group A, it would take a shock beyond even Sheffield Challenge Cup winner Aston's capabilities, given Ireland play England and Australia in their remaining two games.

Ireland were in touch at half-time when they trailed 12-4 but they conceded four second-half tries to suffer an emphatic defeat and will now need to beat England in Huddersfield on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

The 2008 semi-finalists led 32-4 at one point before two late consolation tries made the score look slightly respectable for Ireland.

Fiji will face a tougher test in its next game against Australia on Sunday morning


About liverugbytickets.co.uk: Thousands of rugby tickets are on sale on world's biggest rugby ticketing website: We have Rugby League World Cup 2013 tickets, The Big Hit Semifinals Tickets, Fiji Rugby tickets and rugby tickets for Ireland. Last but not least, we also have 6 Nations Rugby tickets available.