Samoa snatch late PNC draw with Fiji

Samoa flyhalf Michael Stanley kicked a late penalty to earn his team a late
30-30 draw with Fiji in Sacramento, California.

Anthony Perenise, Paul Perez and TJ Ioane each scored second-half tries for
Samoa, who beat the USA 21-16 in their opening game last Saturday.

In the other contests Friday, the USA held on to beat Japan 23-18 and Tonga
stopped Canada 28-18.

Fullback Metuisela Talebula and Leone Nakarawa scored tries as Fiji wasted
no time getting on the board before leading 17-10 at halftime.

Gabiriele Lovobalavu scored Fiji’s fourth try early in the second half and,
after flyhalf Ben Volavola converted to make it 27-10, it looked like the Fijians
were off to the races.

But the Samoans roared back and were able to level the score at 27-27 with
five minutes left in regulation time.

Volavola kicked a penalty three minutes later and Fiji were back on top by
three points. That set the stage for Stanley’s penalty goal just before the
final whistle to make it 30-all.

Samoa’s next game is Wednesday against winless Canada, while Fiji face Japan
on the same day.

The USA recovered from an opening-round loss to Samoa with a confidence-building
victory over Japan at Bonney Field in Sacramento, California.

AJ MacGinty nailed two penalty goals just three minutes apart to tie the contest
18-18 in the 65th minute. The Americans then took a decisive 23-18 lead in the
68th minute as the line forced its way in for the try.

The USA got a break in the dying moments when New Zealand-born Japanese player
Michael Broadhurst was slapped with a yellow card which snuffed out a late scoring
chance.

The Americans played Friday without veteran flanker and ex-captain Todd Clever,
who was released from the team for "multiple conduct violations."

In a night game at Vancouver’s Swangard Stadium, Tonga earned their first win
of the tournament as they overcame a slow start to beat Canada.

Sonatane Takulua scored two tries as Tonga rebounded from a first-round 30-22
loss to Fiji.

Aaron Carpenter mustered two tries for Canada, who led 15-10 at the half.