SAMOA secured a solid if unspectacular victory over the United States yesterday to join Japan at the top of Pool B on four points. The Pacific Islanders had the upper hand for all but the opening stages of the game, and would have won more comfortably but for an indifferent afternoon with the boot from Tusi Pisi.
Even so, it was the stand-off’s four penalties that made the difference in the end after both teams scored two tries. Aj MacGinty, the Americans’ Dublin-born playmaker, added two penalties of his own, while Samoan substitute Michael Stanley also scored a three-pointer.
The second seeds in the pool, Samoa were characteristically relentless both in the tackle and with ball in hand, but could have wrapped up the victory sooner. “We’ll take the win, but we’ve got a lot to tidy up before next weekend,” said Samoa coach Stephen Betham, whose team next play South Africa on Saturday.
The US, who meet Scotland in Leeds on Sunday, were only occasionally able to bring their dangerous runners into play, and will need to cut down on their penalty count if they are to avoid heavier defeats in the matches to come. Their coach, Mike Tolkin, rued the failure to get at least a bonus point for a narrow defeat.
“With the pool being wide open, those points could be important,” he said. “We need more discipline first and foremost.”
Samoa took the lead with a Pisi penalty, then extended their advantage when Tim Nanai-Williams dived to touch down in the left corner after the No 10 had kicked through before Pisi made it 11-0. The Americans needed the next score, and they got it when McGinty scored with a simple effort from in front of the posts.
Back under pressure, the USA then came back into the contest with a first-class try run from deep. MacGinty began the break, and Seamus Kelly took it deep into Samoan territory before passing to winger Chris Wyles for the score. MacGinty was wide with the conversion, then in the last score of the half Pisi was on target with a third penalty to make it 14-8 for Samoa at the half.
The first score of the second half went to the Pacific Islanders too, when the US right-winger Takudzwa Ngwenya failed to clear another grubber from Pisi, and quick recycling gave Ofisa Treviranus the simple task of barging over the line from a few metres out. Pisi again failed to convert, but then exchanged penalties with McGinty to take his team’s lead to 22-11.
A Stanley penalty ten minutes from time gave his team a 14-point lead, and although substitute Chris Baumann grabbed a second unconverted try, the Americans were unable to make further inroads.
SAMOA 25
Scorers: Tries: T Nanai-Williams, Treviranus. Pens: T Pisi 4, Stanley.
USA 16
Scorers: Tries: Wyles, Baumann. Pens: MacGinty 2.
Samoa: T Nanai-Williams; K Pisi, P Perez, R Lee-Lo, A Tuilagi (F Autagavaia 73); T Pisi (M Stanley 58), K Fotuali’i; S Taulafo, O Avei (M Matu’u 66), A Perenise (C Johnston 52), F Paulo, J Tekori (F Levave 59), M Fa’asavalu (A Fa’osiliva 52), J Lam, O Treviranus. Substitutes: V Afatia, V Afemai.
USA: B Scully (B Thompson 53); T Ngwenya, S Kelly, T Palamo, C Wyles; A MacGinty, M Petri; E Fry (O Kilifi 71), Z Fenoglio (P Thiel 53), T Lamositele (C Baumann 71), H Smith (C Dolan 53), G Peterson (D Barrett 59), A McFarland, A Durutalo, S Manoa. Substitutes: S Suniula, F Niua.
Referee: G Clancy (Ireland). Attendance: 29,178.
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