Fiji keep promotion hopes alive with rout of Cook Islands

Fiji have kept their hopes of earning promotion to the Pacific Cup alive by hammering Cook Islands 56-6 on Saturday night, running in 10 tries to record a stunning win on home soil. 

After going down to Papua New Guinea in Week 1 of the tournament, the Bati were in must-win territory and rose to the occasion, with veteran centre Michael Jennings providing three tries and Rabbitohs second-rower Taane Milne dominating up front with a 230-metre haul. 

However, they are still now relying on the Cook Islands toppling the Kumuls next week in order for them to finish as the Bowl's top side, which would qualify them to play-off against the third-ranked team from the Cup section in a promotion-relegation clash. 

A four-try first half which set up a 24-6 lead put Fiji in the box seat and from there they didn't let up, running in a further six four-pointers to claim a comfortable victory at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. 

While the Cook Islands were first to score through a darting Rua Ngatikaura, that was to be the end of their joy on the night.

Two minutes after the opener, Sunia Turuva carried multiple defenders over the line for a try which tied scores following Milne's conversion, before Jennings scored a double in the space of eight minutes to flip the game script in his side's favour. 

First some footwork created a gap just big enough for him to scoot through from close range, before he grabbed a Viliame Kikau offload and flew over for another. 

Esan Marsters denied another likely four-pointer when he forced an error from a charging Caleb Navale, but it only delayed the inevitable and two minutes later Milne broke the line and Kitione Kautoga crossed on the next play. 

Esom Ioka came agonisingly close to getting one back nine minutes into the second period, only to be denied by the Bunker, and a short time later salt was rubbed into the wound when Semi Valemei claimed a towering bomb and went over untouched. 

Jennings' third try on the hour mark, which saw him equal the record for most tries in a Test by a Fijian player, blew the scoreline out to 34-6, before Kurt Donoghoe's grubber smacked into the goal post pad and into the hands of a grateful Ben Nakubuwai for Fiji's seventh. 

Maika Sivo then eluded a spirited chase from Tepai Moeroa to go over in the corner, before doubling up minutes later to grab a Jennings offload and score his 10th try in his past eight Tests.

It was then the turn of Valemei to bring up his personal double, with his 75th-minute strike coming after another piece of brilliance from Milne. 

Fiji will now serve as a nervous audience for next Sunday's clash between PNG and Cook Islands in Port Moresby, with their substantial win meaning a Cook Islands victory of any type will see them through to the promotion-relegation clash.