SCOTLAND will face New Zealand in Friday night’s quarter final at Headingley in Leeds.

Italy’s first loss of the tournament against Tonga at The Shaw in Halifax today means Scotland finish top of Group C, thanks to wins over USA and Tonga as well as a draw with Italy.

Locally that is great news for Warrington Wolves’ new signing Matty Russell and Widnes Vikings forward Ben Kavanagh.

Tonga, who have been based in Leigh for the tournament, had some fun in the final moments of today’s 16-0 win in front of a 10,266 crowd.

Prop Fuifui Moimoi lined up the conversion to the final try in the 80th minute but fellow front rower and skipper Brent Kite popped up from behind him to take the shot instead....and missing!

Two quarter finals are yet to be finalised, dependent upon the result of the France versus Samoa game in Perpignan on Monday night.

The winners will play Fiji at Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium next Sunday afternoon, while the losers will face England at Wigan’s DW Stadium next Saturday night.

The other quarter final will be contested between Australia and USA at the Racecourse Stadium in Wrexham next Saturday afternoon.

Australia completed their mission as Group A leaders with a 50-0 defeat of Ireland in front of a 5,021 crowd at Thomond Park in Limerick last night.

Warrington’s Ben Currie, Tyrone McCarthy and James Mendeika, along with Widnes Vikings’ Dave Allen and Leigh Centurions’ Bob Beswick, Simon Finnigan and Stuart Littler will never forget the experience of facing the mighty Kangaroos in a World Cup fixture despite ending the tournament without a win in arguably the toughest group.

In today’s ‘dead rubber’ at the Gnoll in Neath, Wales ended the competition without a win after falling to Cook Islands 28-24 in front of a 3,270 crowd.

Iestyn Harris made a number of changes, including moving Warrington Wolves’ Rhys Evans from full back to left centre and Widnes Vikings’ Lloyd White from stand off to the bench, and it took time for the Dragons to hit their straps.

They were behind 22-4 after 46 minutes but White’s try sparked a comeback to 24-22 only for the islanders to seal victory with a try by Jonathon Ford seven minutes from time.

The pathway for the semi finals at Wembley on November 23 are now clearer too.

Australia or USA will face the winners of the Warrington quarter final, while New Zealand or Scotland will square up with the winners of the Wigan tie – hopefully England.