Samoa takes Pacific rugby cup

Updated June 18, 2012 18:38:58

Samoa stormed back from 16-0 down and survived a late onslaught to beat Pacific Nations Cup defending champions Japan 27-26 on Sunday and clinch the title.

Samoa finished the four-team competition with three straight wins, but it was a disastrous tournament for the reigning champion Japanese, who lost all three of their games.

Full-back Ayumu Goromaru gave Japan a 6-0 lead, scoring two penalties shortly after kick-off, in a taste of things to come in Tokyo.

Right prop Logovii Mulipola's shoulder charge on stand-off Harumichi Tatekawa in the 18th minute handed Japan a one-man advantage, with number eight Hendrik Tui immediately making the Samoans pay.

Tui was on hand following a good run by left winger Hirotoki Onozawa to go over for the first try of the game, giving the hosts an 11-0 lead.

Then left flanker Takashi Kikutani added another unconverted try in the 26th minute following a succession of quick rucks to lead 16-0.

But Samoa closed the gap within minutes of Mulipola's return, with scrum half Kahn Fotualii going over between the sticks after Samoa opted to kick for the corner. Stand-off Ki Anufe duly converted it.

Then lock Faatiga Lemalu went over for Samoa's second try with Anufe cashing in on the conversion, giving Japan a 16-14 lead at half time.

A penalty from Anufe in the 43rd minute put the surging Samoans in the lead for the first time at 17-16.

Some more poor Japanese defence allowed Samoa to penetrate deep and Lemalu powered over for his second try of the day, as Japan wilted badly.

Smelling a Samoa victory, right centre Lolo Lui took over the kicking duties for the visitors.

He made no mistake with the conversion as Samoa led 24-16.

Anufe then scored his second penalty to extend the lead to 27-16 in the 65th minute.

The Japanese, needing a try to stay in the game, nearly closed the gap as a good run by right winger Toshiaki Hirose was stopped just short of the line.

Samoa lost its own line-out and Kikutani finished off with a try in the corner in the 68th minute, but it was too far out for Nicholas Ryan to convert.

Nine minutes later, Hirose made no mistake, the captain finishing after a period of sustained pressure to go over in the corner and put one point between the sides. But Ryan's attempted conversion just drifted wide.

Tonga and Fiji are out of contention but will meet next Saturday for their final match.

ABC/AFP

Tags: rugby-union, japan, samoa, tonga, fiji, pacific

First posted June 18, 2012 13:33:22

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Lambie takes Sharks to victory over Highlanders

Updated May 06, 2012 08:31:44

Fly half Patrick Lambie scored all of his team's points to give the Sharks a 28-16 victory over the Otago Highlanders in their Super Rugby match at Kings Park.

Fly half Lambie scored a try and kicked a conversion and seven penalties to hand the Highlanders only their third defeat of the season.

"It was one of our better all-round performances," Sharks captain Keegan Daniel said in a pitchside interview. "We are in the middle of the pack at the moment but we need to build some momentum from this win."

The first half was dominated by the boots of Lambie and his opposite number Mike Delany with both teams guilty of conceding penalties at the breakdown.

Lambie succeeded with all five of his penalty attempts while Delany responded with three of his own.

The Sharks reached halftime holding a 15-9 lead but the visitors could consider themselves a touch unlucky to be trailing as they had dominated possession and territory to such an extent that the hosts had not made a single incursion into the Highlanders' 22-metre area.

The New Zealanders finally made their domination count 10 minutes after the restart when replacement wing Kurt Baker scored in the corner after the Sharks simply ran out of defenders.

Delany succeeded with the difficult touchline conversion as the Highlanders edged into the lead for the first and last time while light rain began falling over the ground.

Lambie continued to haunt the Highlanders with two further penalties before scoring a try when he followed up a wickedly bouncing ball to dot down.

He succeeded with the conversion as the Sharks moved in to a 28-16 lead with just under a quarter of the match to play, a lead that they never relinquished.

"We had opportunities to win but to the Sharks' credit they matched us physically. You have to front up every week in this competition or you get a smack," Highlanders skipper Jamie Mackintosh said.

Sharks 28: Try: P Lambie. Cons: Lambie. Pens: Lambie 7.

Otago Highlanders 16: Try: K Baker. Cons: M Delany. Pens: Delany 3.

AFP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, south-africa

First posted May 06, 2012 07:14:27

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Middlesex Sevens - 2009 Takes on Extra Significance