Samoa seal first Pacific Cup win

Samoa seal first Pacific Cup win

From correspondents in Nuku'alofa, Tonga
June 28, 2008 GAVIN Williams kicked Samoa home for their first Pacific Nations Cup rugby competition win as they beat Tonga 20-15.
In the battle of the two cellar-dwellers, Samoa were outplayed for much of the game and found themselves starved of possession.
But they still managed the only two tries of the encounter and came home on the back of Williams's powerful boot on a firm ground at Tonga's Teufaiva Stadium.
Tonga, who conceded 90 points a week ago against Australia A, looked set to restore some pride as they dominated territory and possession.
However, despite their ample ball possession they suffered from a lack of attacking options and were left to rely on five penalties for their 15 points.
The defeat left them pointless at the bottom of the ladder with only one round remaining while Samoa moved up to fourth, equal with Japan, who are to play New Zealand Maori later in the day.
Pierra Hola gave Tonga a positive start with a penalty in the second minute and he landed two more shots at goal to stretch the lead to 9-0 within half an hour.
But although Samoa were on the back foot for much of the game, they always looked enterprising with the ball and they posted their first points of the game just before half-time when Sevens star Uale Mai ran blind from the base of a scrum to score wide out.
A Williams conversion left Samoa trailing 7-9 at the turn.
After Tongan wing Vungakoto Lilo, who took over the kicking duties when Hola was subbed, landed a penalty soon after half-time, Samoa took the lead for the first time with their second try.
Eliota Sapolu-Fuimaono snapped through a series of half-hearted tackles before off-loading to David Lemi, who scored handy to the posts and Williams's conversion put Samoa up 14-12.
Lilo regained the lead for Tonga with his second penalty before Williams landed two late penalties, one from halfway, to seal the win.
Agence France-Presse


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Tipping updated.