Samoa v Fiji will be the Oceania Under 19 final after they both win

Samoa and Fiji both enjoyed victories against Tonga and Vanuatu on the third day of the Oceania Under 19 Championship.

The Samoans have now beaten both Fiji and Tonga, while the Fijians earlier edged the Tongans 9-8, meaning that Samoa will play against Fiji in the grand final this weekend.

Samoa 13-11 Tonga

Samoa were made to work hard for their second home victory in an attritional game against the powerful Tongans.

Captain and prop Viliamu Afatia scored to put them 5-0 ahead on 26 minutes, but Patrick Makaafi struck with a well taken penalty goal four minutes later for Tonga to narrow the lead to just two points, which is how things stayed until half time.

Shortly after the break, home fly half Karl Malielegaoi kicked a penalty and on 23 minutes Sani Niues try appeared to put the tight match beyond the Tongans at 13-3.

However, on 70 minutes Makaafi cut the deficit to seven points and, with just four minutes to play, Tonga captain Seilame Tukuafu scored a try. The tough conversion was missed, leaving Samoa with a final frantic few minutes to hold on to their two-point lead, which they duly managed.

Fiji 89-3 Vanuatu

In the days other match Fiji ran out convincing winners against Vanuatu, 89-3, with eleven different players contributing tries.

Centre Virimi Vakatawa inspired them to a 44-0 half time lead with three inside the first 40 minutes, and they kept up the good work after the break.

Full back Iliesa Ratuva and flank forward Penaia Nawelulu each scored a brace as the IRB Junior World Championship-bound side hammered home its authority.

Vanuatus three points came from a penalty goal scored in the 75th minute by fly half Lawrenzo Kunro Kalo.

While Samoa take on Fiji for the regional champions title, PNG will play Vanuatu for Oceanias sole berth at next year’s IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy.

Full match schedule

24 Aug 2009
3:00pm – Fiji 22-34 Samoa
28 Aug 2009
4:00pm – Tonga 8-9 Fiji
31 Aug 2009
2:00pm – Fiji 89-3 Vanuatu
4:00pm – Tonga 11-13 Samoa
4 Sep 2009
2:00pm – Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu
4:00pm – Samoa v Fiji

All matches to be played at Apia Park, Samoa times shown local(BST -12 hrs)

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1 Comment

1. proud Samoan Living in NZ said:

   hey um how are you Samoan boys doing there read lots of info`s about your passed games and we all love it so far..(ua ta fia falealili fua)keep up boys and you can do better in the future and we all know that…..And i would also lyk 2 comment abt Karl Malielegaoi..a Very Aggressive young man And im wishing to meet you somedays hola bk please….love you`s

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