Vitalina Naikore hat-trick sends Fiji to Pacific Bowl final after convincing win over Cook Islands

Fiji has handed the Cook Islands an 18-6 defeat in their Pacific Championships match-up at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji.

A hat-trick to winger Vitalina Naikore put the win out of reach for the Cook Islands on Saturday evening. The Cook Islands are ranked 20 places above Fiji.

With the win, the Bulikula will progress to the women's Pacific Bowl final in Auckland where the side is one win away from booking a place at the 2026 World Cup for the first time in the team's history.

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In its first Test on home soil since 1998, Fiji proceeded to pepper the Cook Islands' tryline early but was continually held up.

Bulikula winger Sienna Laing looked to have finally broken through for the opening try before referee Peter Gough waved it away.

The Bunker soon confirmed that Latisha Smythe had obstructed in the lead-up to the try.

The Steeden then rocked down the other end where Cook Islands back-rower Kerehitina Matua planted her left foot to sidestep her opponents before charging over the line in the 17th minute.

The response from the Bulikula came from skipper Talei Holmes after the second rower was put through a hole by Teaghan Hartigan.

Fiji scored back-to-back tries after halfback Losana Lutu set up Naikore with a telepathic pass.

"They had no right to score that try," NRL great Paul Gallen said in commentary for Nine.

At the main break, the hosts led the Cook Islands 10-6.

Watch the 2024 Pacific Championships on Nine and 9Now.

Both sides were hamstrung by errors in the first half, the sides racking up 49 missed tackles between them.

Lutu and Naikore linked up again to kick off the scoring in the second half — this time by foot.

Lutu chipped the ball to Naikore who then bypassed her opponent en route to the tryline.

In concerning scenes, Laing was brought down in a dodgy-looking tackle by Tyler Birch.

With Laing losing her legs, Gallen was sure disciplinary action would be taken for a hip-drop tackle.

But when the Bunker pardoned the act, Gallen was bewildered to see the centre escaped punishment completely.

"She should have been penalised and possibly sent to the sin bin," he said.

April Ngatupuna was later placed on report after tackling an unsuspecting Nanise Vakacavu when she did not have the ball.

Gallen subsequently labelled the act "a cheap shot in the back".

Naikore's third try in the 60th sealed the result for the Bulikula before Matua left the field late for a HIA.

Fiji will meet Samoa in the women's Pacific Bowl final on Saturday, November 2 which doubles as a World Cup qualifier.