Rugby League World Cup: Tonga 22-16 Cook Islands

Chris Taripo's hat-trick was in vain as Tonga won a thrilling contest to keep their Rugby League World Cup hopes alive and send the Cook Islands out.

Jorge Taufua's 62nd-minute try and Samsoni Langi's composure with the boot proved the difference, meaning Christopher Taripo's hat-trick for the Cook Islands proved in vain as defeat resulted in elimination from the competition.

Tonga's thrilling 22-16 victory at Leigh Sports Village kept alive their hopes of topping Group C while the Cook Islands' second consecutive defeat means the USA Tomahawks are guaranteed to finish top of Group D.

That almost certainly means an unlikely quarter-final for the Americans with tournament favourites Australia in Wrexham on November 16.

The Tomahawks face Scotland on Thursday at the Salford City Stadium, with a victory for the latter meaning they, and not Tonga, would also go through.


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