KEY POINTS:
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 and saw 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
Final: Samoa 17 (Mikaele Pesamino, Ofisa Trevarinus tries; Lolo Lui pen, 2 con) Fiji 14 (Setefano Cakalinivalli, Nasoni Rokobiau tries; William Ryder con, Rokobiau con)
Plate:
Semifinals: England 29 Canada 7, France 26 Kenya 5
Final: England 21 France 12
Bowl:
Quarterfinals: Cook Islands 24 Portugal 12, Tonga 19 Papua New Guinea 12, Argentina 17 Scotland 12, Australia 33 United States 14
Semifinals: Tonga 29 Cook Islands 7, Argentina 26 Australia 21 (extra time)
Final: Argentina 12 Tonga 5
Shield:
Semifinals: Portugal 26 Papua New Guinea 19, Scotland 26 United States 19
Final: Portugal 26 Scotland 24
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
