New Zealand Maori scored two tries to none to beat Samoa 17-6 yesterday and ensure a shot at the Pacific Nations Cup title.
New Zealand Maori have won three from three so far in the Cup and Samoa have lost all three, although they prevented the New Zealanders from totally dominating.
Samoa’s chances were not helped by losing lock Chad Slade for 10 minutes to a yellow card in the first spell and inside center Anitelea Tuilagi in the second half.
The first half was dominated by a grinding contest in the forwards, with Maori enjoying the bulk of both possession and territory.
Maori fly-half Callum Bruce opened the scoring with a penalty after 11 minutes and he kept the momentum going with the first try 16 minutes later.
There was no way through the Samoan defense until Bruce stabbed through a little grubber kick behind the defensive line from about 10m out and he followed up, forcing the ball down just before it reached the dead ball line.
Maori always looked likely to break through again, but the second try came just two minutes before the break.
The classy Messam and Waldrom combined in a burst upfield to put former All Black half-back Piri Weepu in the clear for a try under the posts, although there were suspicions that the final pass was forward. Bruce’s second conversion gave the Maori a comfortable 17-0 halftime lead.
Samoa were the only scorers in the second half, with two well struck penalties to Gavin Williams.
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