Hard-fought draw sees Samoans advance over Scotland

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Samoa Men v Scotland Men

Samoa have managed to qualify for the quarter finals despite not winning a game, after managing a 14-all draw with Scotland in Cairns this afternoon.

The Bravehearts stunned Toa Samoa in the first half, taking a 14-6 lead at the break before Samoa managed to surge back into the contest, a turnaround from a lacklustre first half.

Knowing a draw was enough, Samoa played it safe for much of the last twenty minutes once scores were level, despite field goal and penalty goal attempts from the Scots.

It was an awful start for Samoa - errors and poor discipline saw Scotland get some real chances in attack and they capitalised when Lewis Tierney scored the opening points in the fifth minute.

Samoa eventually steadied things and got on the board through a rampaging Junior Paulo just after the ten minute mark, but Scotland reclaimed the ascendency with an 18th minute penalty goal to Danny Addy.

Frankie Mariano plucked a Tim Lafai offload next, to put Scotland ahead 14-6, a lead they held til halftime.

That would be the last the Bravehearts troubled the scoreboard - Matthew Wright in the ninth minute of the second half was Samoa's next scorer, then 13 minutes from time Young Tonumaipea strolled through to level the scores.

The final part of the game saw Samoa settling, with a draw enough to advance to the Quarter Final. Despite a couple of field goal attempts and a long-range penalty attempt, Scotland couldn't find the winning points and head home after a spirited draw.