Samoa ended their disappointing World Cup campaign with a scrappy 25-21 win over the United States in their final Pool A match on Tuesday.
Samoa, without a dozen players, including captain Brian Lima, through injury and suspension after losing their first three games, led 22-3 at the break after a three-try blitz and seemed on course for a comfortable win.
However, they lost their way in the second half as the mostly-amateur Americans fought back strongly but ran out of time.
Samoa took charge from the off and ran in two tries in the first nine minutes.
Fullback Loki Crichton broke well and after a scrum winger Lome Fa’atau crossed in the fifth minute.
Flyhalf Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu then broke the first line of defence to set up Alesana Tuilagi and though he was brought down short, the Leicester man had enough power and momentum to get over.
Tuilagi turned provider just before halftime when he set up lock Kane Thompson to score under the posts.
All the United States could manage in return was a sole Mike Hercus penalty as they turned round 22-3 down.
They looked better organised after the break and, despite losing big number eight Fifita Mounga to the sin bin in the 51st minute, claimed their first try two minutes later.
Winger Takudzwa Ngwenya, on paper one of the fastest men at the tournament, stepped inside two defenders then tore clear for an excellent score, which Hercus converted to make it 22-10.
The Samoans seemed to have lost interest all together but, despite another Hercus penalty, the American comeback lost its momentum when Mounga was carried off with a serious-looking neck injury.
A needless penalty in front of the posts then allowed Crichton to notch Samoa’s only points of the second half and it proved an important kick.
The Americans, showing more attacking intent than in either of their previous games, pushed to the end and claimed their second try through Louis Stanfill in the last minute.
Hercus was wide with the conversion, though the four-point defeat was enough to earn them their first bonus point of the tournament.
While Samoa can now pack their bags, the United States sign off against pool winners South Africa on Sunday in the final game of the whole pool phase. – Reuters