Samoa survived a late New Zealand surge to triumph 24-22 on Friday after the first major clash in the South Africa leg of the IRB Sevens World Series.
New Zealand won 24-12 when the teams clashed in the Dubai final last weekend and made a dream start in the Western Cape city of George with leading try scorer Sherwin Showers dotting down 20 seconds into the opening half.
But Samoa stormed back to compile 24 unanswered points through tries by Mikaele Pesamino, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Ruepeni Levasa with Lolo Lui converting them all and adding a drop goal.
After leading 17-5 at half-time at sun-drenched Outeniqua Park, the Samoans added their third try before fading in the closing stages and Stowers, Save Tokula and Toby Arnold crossed for the Kiwis but just one was converted.
With two points separating the long-time rivals the hooter sounded and the Samoans began celebrating only for the French referee to insist play must continue.
However, any chance New Zealand had of completing their comeback with a match-winning try was crushed when they failed to secure possession from the kick-off and Samoa booted the ball into touch.
Dubai marked the start of the eight-tournanment 2009-2010 Sevens season and after reaching the semifinals, England came to South Africa confident of making an impression.
It showed in their opening outing as they tore inexperienced Tunisia apart to win 45-0 with the losers not helped by the first-half yellow card shown to Amor Hamdi for tackling an airborne opponent.
England took 30 seconds to forge ahead with Jake Abbott snapping up an inside pass to go over and he crossed the tryline again after new skipper Kevin Barrett set him up with a long pass.
Christian Wade, an 18-year-old considered the rising star of the England squad, also scored a try before Hamdi was ‘sin binned’ and further tries from Dan Norton and Wade established a 33-0 interval cushion.
Lifting their foot off the accelerator, England added just two tries in the second half courtesy of veteran star Ben Gollings and Nick Royle while Tunisian woes continued with the loss of injured Abbes Kherfani.
Fiji, the other losing semifinalists in Dubai, were the first team to reach the half-century point mark in George and eventually toyed with understrength Portugal in a 50-7 victory.
Towering Pio Tuwai led the eight-try romp with a couple and there was one each from Osea Kolinisau, William Ryder, Watisoni Votu, Emosi Vucago, Jiuta Lutumailagi and Sireli Naqelevuki for the Fijians who led 24-7 at the break. — AFP
