HALIFAX, England (AP) Scotland advanced to the quarterfinals of the Rugby League World Cup as winners of Group C on Sunday as a result of Italy's 16-0 loss to Tonga.
The Azzurri would have topped the group on points difference with a win by any margin in Halifax, but Tonga came through thanks to tries by Willie Manu, Daniel Foster and Peni Terepo
The Scots will play reigning champion New Zealand on Friday in the first quarterfinal.
In Sunday's other match, the Cook Islands beat Wales 28-24, condemning their beaten opponents to a third straight defeat in Group D. The match was inconsequential for qualification, with United States already guaranteed to top the group.