Wallaroos hold off Fijiana fightback to retain Vuvale Bowl

The Fiji women's rugby team have fallen 33-15 to the Wallaroos in Canberra, with Australia’s late surge sealing the Vuvale Bowl in a tough Pacific contest on Friday.

Despite the scoreline, the match was far closer than it suggests, with the Fijiana creating key chances but unable to convert when it mattered most.

Australia struck first through debutant Nicole Ledington, whose solo try helped the Wallaroos build an early 14-0 lead. But Fijiana stayed composed and worked their way back into the match before half-time.

Forward pressure paid off when Carletta Yee crashed over from close range, narrowing the gap to 14-10 at the break and setting up a strong second half.

Fijiana carried that momentum after the restart. Josivini Neihamu powered over following a break from Kolora Lomani, bringing the visitors within striking distance at 21-15.

At that stage, the game was there for the taking. But crucial moments slipped away. A potential try was ruled out for a knock-on, and another golden chance went begging when a loose ball near the line could not be grounded cleanly.

Fijiana showed fight and flair throughout, but missed chances proved costly against a clinical Wallaroos side.

Winger Maya Stewart crossed in the corner after a well-worked move, extending the lead and easing the pressure on the hosts. From there, the Wallaroos slowed the game down and controlled possession.

Fijiana continued to push but were dealt a late blow when Salanieta Kinita was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knockdown, reducing them to 14 players in the closing minutes.

With time almost up, Desiree Miller sealed the result, diving over in the corner to give Australia a 33-15 victory.

While the Wallaroos showed their class late, Fijiana will reflect on missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome. Their ability to break the line and create pressure highlighted their attacking threat, but execution at key moments proved costly.

The result continues Australia’s unbeaten record against Fijiana, but the contest again showed the growing competitiveness of this Pacific rivalry.

For Fijiana, there are positives to take particularly their physicality, resilience, and ability to stay in the fight against a well-drilled Wallaroos side.

But as the visitors look ahead, turning pressure into points will be the key step if they are to close the gap and challenge for wins in future Tests.