Samoa beat Fiji 29-26 in Pacific Nations Cup

TOKYO (AFP) –

Fiji’s scrum-half Nemia Kenatale (C) during the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament against Samoa in Tokyo on June 10. The difference of just one penalty shot gave former champions Samoa a 29-26 victory over Fiji on Sunday.

The difference of just one penalty shot gave former champions Samoa a 29-26 victory over Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament on Sunday.

Samoa, the 2010 champion in the four-team competition, overcame a 3-10 deficit before taking a second straight win, following their 20-18 victory over Tonga on Tuesday.

Early penalties from stand-offs Ki Anufe and Setareki Koroilagilagi saw the two sides tied at 3-3 in the first five minutes before scrum-half Nemia Kenatale touched down to give Fiji a 8-3 lead in the 10th minute. Koroilagilagi converted to make it 10-3.

But Anufe, who pulled one penalty back in the 21st minute, tied it at 13-13 following a conversion after flanker Ben Masoe’s try in the 27th minute.

Winger David Lemi then scored a couple of unconverted tries in the 29th minute and 10 minutes into the second half to put Samoa 23-13 up.

Both teams added one more penalty each and number eight Netani Talei touched down for Fiji’s second try seven minutes before the end to trail 21-26.

But Anufe added his fourth penalty before Fiji substitute Talemaitoga Tuapati pulled off another try with only one minute left on the clock.