Vunga Lilo
Flyhalf Michael Stanley converted a penalty in the final moments as Samoa stormed back to tie Fiji 30 / 30 at the Pacific Nations Cup.
Anthony Perenise, Paul Perez and TJ Ioane each scored 2nd-half tries for Samoa, who beat the United States 21 / 16 in their opening game last Saturday.
In the other contests the United States of America (USA Eagles) held on to beat Japan 23 / 18 and Tonga stopped Canada 28 / 18.
Fullback Metuisela Talebula and Leone Nakarawa scored tries as Fiji wasted no time getting on the board before leading 17 / 10 at halftime.
Gabiriele Lovobalavu scored Fiji’s 4th try early in the 2nd half and, after flyhalf Ben Volavola converted to make it 27 / 10, it looked like the Fijians were off to the races.
But the Samoans roared back and were able to level the score at 27 / 27 with 5 minutes left in regulation time.
Volavola kicked a penalty 3 minutes later and Fiji were back on top by 3 points. That set the stage for Stanley’s penalty goal just before the final whistle to make it 30 / 30.
Samoa’s next game is Wednesday against winless Canada, while Fiji face Japan on the same day.
The USA Eagles recovered from an opening-round loss to Samoa with a confidence-building victory over Japan at Bonney Field in Sacramento, California.
AJ MacGinty nailed 2 penalty goals just 3 minutes apart to tie the contest 18 / 18 in the 65th minute. The Americans then took a decisive 23 / 18 lead in the 68th minute as the line forced its way in for the try.
The USA got a break in the dying moments when New Zealand-born Japanese player Michael Broadhurst was slapped with a Yellow Card which snuffed out a late scoring chance.
The Americans played without veteran flank and former captain Todd Clever, who was released from the team for “multiple conduct violations.”
In a game at Vancouver’s Swangard Stadium, Tonga earned their 1st win of the tournament as they overcame a slow start to beat Canada.
Sonatane Takulua scored 2 tries as Tonga rebounded from a 1st Round 30 / 22 loss to Fiji.
Aaron Carpenter mustered 2 tries for Canada, who led 15 / 10 at the half.
Results:
USA Eagles 23 / 18 Japan:
Scorers:
USA Eagles:
- Tries: Andrew Durutalo (1)
- Penalties: AJ MacGinty (6)
Japan:
- Tries: Akihito Yamada (1), Koliniashi Holani (1)
- Conversions: Harumichi Tatekawa (1)
- Penalties: Harumichi Tatekawa (1)
Teams:
USA Eagles: 15 Chris Wyles (Captain), 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Danny Barrett, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 6 Scott LaValla, 5 Cam Dolan, 4 Hayden Smith, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Zach Fenoglio, 1 Eric Fry
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Nicholas Wallace, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Louis Stanfill, 20 Alastair McFarland, 21 Shalom Suniula, 22 Folau Niua, 23 Zack Test.
Japan: 15 Yoshikazu Fujita, 14 Karne Hesketh, 13 Kotaro Matsushima, 12 Ryohei Yamanaka, 11 Akihito Yamada, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Koliniasi Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Justin Ives, 5 Luke Thompson, 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (Captain), 2 Takeshi Kizu, 1 Keita Inagaki
Replacements: 16 Hiroki Yuhara, 17 Hisateru Hirashima, 18 Shinnosuke Kakinaga, 19 Kazuhiko Usami, 20 Tsuyoshi Murata, 21 Atsushi Hiwasa, 22 Kosei Ono, 23 Tim Bennetts.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle (England), Andrew McMaster (Canada)
Samoa 30 / 30 Fiji:
Scorers:
Samoa:
- Tries: Paul Perez (2), Anthony Perenise (1), TJ Ioane (1)
- Conversions: Michael Stanley (2)
- Penalties: Michael Stanley (1), Patrick Fa’apale (1)
Fiji:
- Tries: Leone Nakarawa (2), Metuisela Talebula (1), Gabririele Lovbalavu (1)
- Conversions: Ben Volavola (2)
- Penalties: Ben Volavola (2)
Teams:
Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Waisea Nayacalevu, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Gabiriele Lovobalavu, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera (Captain), 6 Peceli Yato, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Campese Ma’afu, 18 Taniela Koroi, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Josh Matavesi, 23 Napolioni Nalaga.
Samoa: 15 Fa’atoina Autagavaia, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Paul Perez, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Alesana Tuilagi (Captain), 10 Michael Stanley, 9 Pele Cowley, 8 Sanele Vavae Tuilagi, 7 Jack Lam, 6 TJ Ioane, 5 Fa’atiga Lemalu, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Sakaria Taulafo
Replacements: 16 Manu Leiataua, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Jake Grey, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Faifili Levave, 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Patrick Fa’apale, 23 Faleniu Iosi.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Andrew McMaster (Canada)
Tonga 28 / 18 Canada:
Scorers:
Tonga:
- Tries: Sonatane Takulua (2), Otulea Kotoa (1)
- Conversions: Kurt Morath (2)
- Penalties: Kurt Morath (3)
Canada:
- Tries: Aaron Carpenter (2)
- Conversions: Gordon McRorie (1)
- Penalties: Gordon McRorie (2)
Teams:
Canada: 15 Matt Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Connor Braid, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Liam Underwood, 9 Gordon McRorie, 8 Tyler Ardron (Captain), 7 John Moonlight, 6 Richard Thorpe, 5 Brett Beukeboom, 4 Jon Phelan, 3 Andrew Tiedemann, 2 Aaron Carpenter, 1 Hubert Buydens
Replacements: 16 Benoît Piffero, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Doug Wooldridge, 19 Callum Morrison, 20 Kyle Gilmour, 21 Phil Mack, 22 Nathan Hirayama, 23 Phil Mackenzie.
Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Sione Piukala, 12 Viliami Tahitu’a, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Nili Latu (Captain), 6 Hale T-Pole, 5 Joe Tuineau, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Tevita Mailau
Replacements: 16 Sosefo Sakalia, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Uili Kolo’ofai, 20 Viliami Fihaki, 21 Sosefo Ma’ake, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 Otulea Katoa.
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Kurt Weaver (USA), Brian Zapp (USA)
Pacific Nations Cup standings:
Pool A (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against and points):
Samoa – 2 – 1 – 1 – 0 – 51 – 46 – 6
Japan – 2 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 38 – 29 – 5
Tonga – 2 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 50 – 48 – 4
Pool B (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against and points):
Fiji – – 2 – 1 – 1 – 0 – 60 – 52 – 6
United States – – 2 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 39 – 39 – 5
Canada – 2 – 0 – 0 – 2 – 24 – 48 – 0
rugby365