Pacific Championships 2023 as it happened: Victory for Kangaroos ...

Well, that’s all from us tonight, and what a massive day for sport in Australia.

What a great night with wins for both the Jillaroos and the Kangaroos, and a shout-out to Tamika Upton and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who both scored doubles for Australia.

If you’re looking for some more live action to follow along, senior writer Emma Kemp is blogging the cricket World Cup clash between India and Pakistan.

Otherwise, enjoy your night, stay safe, and we will be here again for the next of Australia’s Pacific Championship Tests on October 28.

The Kangaroos have won the first Pacific Test against Samoa, with a 38-12 victory in Townsville.

It wasn’t an easy win, with the Australians struggling to find points in the second half, but four tries for the Kangaroos in the opening 15 minutes was what got them over the line with a strong win in the end.

Full time: Australia 38, Samoa 12

James Tedesco and the Kangaroos win in Townsville.Credit: Getty

He’s been excellent for Samoa all night, and Luciano Leilua has scored in the closing minutes of the game.

It started with a tricky take from winger Murray Tualagi, who took off up the right touch line, but Leilua was there in support and he barged through Selwyn Cobbo and Ben Hunt to score.

Stephen Crichton’s kick is good and he gets an extra two points for the team.

Australia 32, Samoa 12 with six minutes to go

The scoreline is a bit blown out, but Samoa have actually gone toe-to-toe with Australia for most of this match.

If you take out those first 15 minute, where the Kangaroos score four tries, there’s not much between these two teams.

They both have moments of force, but they also look disjointed and lost at times. I suppose that’s to be expected when you’re playing together for the first time, but Mal Meninga will have a few things he wants to iron out before game two.

Australia 32, Samoa 6 with 14 minutes to go

Cameron Munster tries to slip past Stephen Crichton.Credit: Getty

We finally get our first points of the second half, with a try for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, his second of the night.

He wrestled with the Samoan defnders in-goal, after he was initially held up. But a bit of squirming and the ball is grounded and the Kangaroos add to their tally.

The kick from Kotoni Staggs is pushed out to the right, but Australia keep a strong lead.

Australia 32, Samoa 6

He has been fantastic all night, but Sualauvi Faalogo has taken his game to a new height.

The young Samoan fullback chipped and chased to score the first points in this second half, but the try is disallowed after the bunker shows a knock-on earlier in the play.

It’s a kangaroos ball, but either way it’s a win for Faalogo, who is one of the best players tonight. He’s played just one game of NRL for the Storm in round 27 this year (when Craig Bellamy rested all his players), and he scored two tries on that night - he is a player to watch.

Kangaroos 28, Samoa 6

The final 40 minutes is under way, with Terrell May taking the first carry for Samoa.

Australia looked disjointed to end that first half, despite the late try for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, but can Samoa keep up the momentum and get themselves back in this game?

Australia 28, Samoa 6