Samoa A secure first win of the Challenge

10 October 2017, 12:00AM

Samoa A came out on top of USA Select XV in their opening match of the America Pacific tournament with a 48-26 score at fulltime.

Samoa A found another gear in the second half to punish the USA Select XV which was reduced to 14 men shortly after the break.

The US went into the interval only three points in arrears of the Pacific Islanders but the concession of an early try shortly after the restart, followed by Hanco Germishuys’ dismissal for foul play ended their hopes.

After a relatively subdued start to the match, Samoa clicked into gear to score two breakaway tries through La’aloi Leilua and Elisapeta Alofipo and established a 17-0 lead inside the first half an hour.

The young Eagles prospects would keep the score close by half-time however, after two impressive scores from Tim Maupin and captain Peter Malcom, just before time was up.

Samoa came out in a determined mood at the start of the second half and were rewarded with a converted try for prop Tiamu Viliamu to push the score out to 24-14 in their favour.

The red card to back-rower Germishuys came in the next play and US heads immediately dropped, Samoa taking full advantage to score four more tries in a 12-minute burst through captain and number eight Suamalie Tuiletufuga, Tagaloa Fonoti, Ionatana Tino and Rodney Tapu.

Credit to the US, they never gave in and tries from Mitch Wilson and Bryce Campbell will give them some much-needed momentum going into Wednesday’s match against Uruguay A.

Samoa A’s second encounter will be Argentina XV this Wednesday.

Americas Pacific Challenge 2017 Results

Montevideo

 

Results and standings from the 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge.

USA Selects 26 Samoa A 48

Argentina XV 71 Canada A 10

Tonga A v Uruguay A

Oct 11, 2017

Tonga A v Canada A

Argentina XV v Samoa A

USA Selects v Uruguay A

 

Oct 15, 2017

Tonga A v Samoa A

USA Selects v Canada A

Argentina XV v Uruguay A

10 October 2017, 12:00AM
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