Rugby: Juniors ahead after Fiji win

A four-try first half engineered the Junior All Blacks' climb to the top of the Pacific Nations Cup rugby standings as they beat hosts Fiji 45-17 in Lautoka yesterday.

Despite greasy underfoot conditions at Churchill Park, both sides sought to play expansively and it was the New Zealanders who displayed superior continuity to improve markedly on their opening-round performance in Samoa.

Wing Hosea Gear continued his comeback from a fractured Super 14 campaign with a hat-trick of tries while Ryan Crotty and Anthony Tuitavake were a constant threat in midfield.

Leading 24-7 at halftime, the Juniors extended their advantage three minutes into the second spell when Gear forced the ball.

His power was again evident in the dying minutes when he took two defenders over the line after accepting a neat tap pass from Crotty's replacement Robbie Fruean.

The Junior All Blacks banked the maximum five points to improve to nine after two matches, three ahead of Samoa. Fiji remain on five.

Their next match is against Japan in Lautoka on Tuesday.

- NZPA