Samoa has won its maiden IRB Sevens title, upsetting Fiji 17-14 in the final of the New Zealand tournament in Wellington tonight.
Samoa dominated the Fijians right from the start, but in the end it was a penalty drop goal which separated the teams at full time andsaw Samoa crowned champions.
Up 14 nil in the second half Samoa were awarded a penalty 40m out from the Fijian line and opted to take the drop goal – a rarity in this form of rugby.
However, the move paid dividends as Fiji scored two late converted tries, the penalty preventing them from drawing level.
New Zealand and South Africa remain at the top of the IRB Sevens standings with 36 points each with England 10 points behind in third.
FINAL RESULTS Cup: Quarterfinals: Fiji 60 Canada 0, New Zealand 14 (Lote Raikabula, Tafai Ioasa tries; Nigel Hunt 2 con) England 7 (Danny Gray try; Simon Amor con), Samoa 26 Kenya 21, South Africa 26 France 14
Semifinals: Fiji 31 (Lepani Nabuliwaqa, William Ryder, Simio ne Saravanua, Emosi Vucago, Setefano Cakalinivalli tries; Ryder 3 con) New Zealand 0, Samoa 14 South Africa 12
