Samoa claim Pacific Nations Cup
Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:38
A vital fourth-try bonus point 15 minutes from fulltime steered Samoa to the Pacific Nations Cup when they beat Fiji 31-9 in the final match of the regional rugby tournament in Apia on Saturday.
The extra point brought Samoa level with Fiji on nine points for the tournament and they took home the title with a superior points differential.
Samoa ended up scoring five tries in the match and with a determined defensive effort restricted Fiji to just three penalties.
"Attitude. That was the difference today. We gave it everything we had," Samoa captain and man-of-the-match Mahonri Schwalger said after his side bounced back from their shock loss to Japan last week.
"The boys were playing in front of their people, they were playing for their country and there was no way we were going to end like we did last week."
Samoa took control up front, where props Sakaria Taulafo and Anthony Perenise drove back the Fijian pack, while sevens star Mikaele Pesamino announced his arrival in the fifteens game with a scintillating try, his third of the tournament.
Replacement forward Alafoti Faosiliva, who came on for regular backrower George Stowers, scored two tries including the bonus point try.
Flyhalf Lolo Lui landed three conversions while Fiji's points all came from penalties by fullback Taniela Rawaqa.
Japan picked up their second win in the four-team tournament beating Tonga 26-23 to finish in third place.