Samoa win basement battle

Samoa made the most of their dearth of possession to beat Tonga 20-15 in the Pacific Nations Cup in Nuku'alofa on Saturday, almost certainly consigning the Tongans to the wooden spoon.

Tonga dominated for lnog periods, but could not find their way to the tryline.

Even so, they ought to have closed out a game they led 9-0 after half an hour, with the pressure on their opponents yielding three penalties for Pierre Hola.

Samoa struck back on the stroke of half-time, with Uale Mai finishing off a wide attacking move -- one feature of the game the Tongans did not seem able to master.  Gavin Williams made it 9-7 with the extras.

Vunga Lilo extended Tonga's lead to 12-7 with a fourth penalty, but Bath cente Eliota Spolu-Fuimaono shredde the Tonga defence with a burst and gave David Lemi Samoa's second try, which Williams converted to put the Samoans in the lead.

Lilo made it 15-14 with another penalty, but two late penalties from Williams -- one from the half-way line -- handed Samoa the win.  Tonga must beat Fiji next weekend to avoid a whitewash, while Samoa host Japan.

The scorers:

For Tonga:
Pens:  Hola 3, Lilo 2

For Samoa:
Tries:  Mai, Lemi
Cons:  Williams 2
Pens:  Williams 2

Tonga:  15 Seteleki Lu'au, 14 Samisoni Pone, 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 Epeli Taione, 11 Mani Vakaloa, 10 Pierre Hola, 9 Soane Havea, 8 Samiu Vahafolau, 7 Nili Langilangi (C), 6 Hale T Tu'uhoko, 5 Paino Hehea, 4 Joshua Afu, 3 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 2 Ephraim Taukafa, 1 Semisi Telefoni.
Replacements:  16 Viliami Ma'asi, 17 Kisi Pulu, 18 Milton Ngauamo, 19 Enele Taufa, 20 Fangatapu 'Apikotoa, 21 Hudson Tonga'uiha, 22 Vungakoto Lilo.

Samoa:  15 Gavin Williams, 14 Esera Lauina, 13 Henry Faafili, 12 Anitele'a Tuilagi, 11 David Lemi, 10 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 9 Uale Mai, 8 George Stowers, 7 Alafoti Faosilivia, 6 Semo Sititi, 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Filipo Levi (C), 3 Simon Lemalu, 2 Loleni Tafunai, 1 James Johnston.
Replacements:  16 Hiroshi Tea, 17 Ati Olive, 18 Daniel Leo, 19 Jonathan Faamatuainu, 20 Notise Tauafao, 21 Roger Warren, 22 Gasolo Salima.

Referee:  Ian Smith (Australia)