Brett leads Juniors win

by: Brent Edwards
Sportal

Stephen Brett showed his class when the Junior All Blacks comfortably beat Samoa 31-10 in the Pacific Nations Cup in Apia on Sunday.

The Juniors scored five tries to one and, although they had some flat patches, they were never in danger from Samoa which displayed plenty of commitment but lacked the finishing touches.

Brett, who played at second five-eighth, was one of the standout players for the Juniors and the Crusaders first five-eighth made a fine fist of the second five-eighth position.

He showed the ability to beat the defence with his deft footwork and he combined well with his Crusaders' team-mate Casey Laulala, who impressed with his attack and defence at centre.

Right wing Rico Gear confirmed his finishing ability with two good tries and the forwards, while they went in fits and starts, had enough ascendancy to set the platform.

Those to impress included prop Clarke Dermody, who played both sides of the scrum, hooker Derren Witcombe, lock Greg Rawlinson and No 8 Mose Tuiali'i.

Samoa, which beat Fiji 8-3 in the mud last week, showed plenty of spirit but threw too many speculative passes when they were on attack.

The Junior All Blacks took the lead after only two minutes when prop John Afoa charged down an attempted clearance by Seilala Mapusua, re-gathered and galloped 30 metres to score. Stephen Donald's conversion made it 7-0.

Four minutes later the Juniors scored their second try when, from a tap penalty, the ball was moved quickly to the right wing where Rico Gear squeezed over in the corner.

Samoa eventually gained some go-forward and field position and fullback Gavin
Williams kicked an easy penalty after 11 minutes to narrow the gap to 3-12.

The Juniors mounted a sustained attack midway through the spell and hooker Derren Witcombe seemed certain to score before the ball was knocked out of his hands in the tackle by flanker Ulia Ulia. Then Ross Filopo, who had replaced the injured Hoani MacDonald after 11 minutes, was over the line but lost the ball in the tackle.

The Juniors scored their third try eight minutes before halftime when, after continual pressure, halfback Jimmy Cowan flicked a pass to No 8 Mose Tuiali'i who charged over under the posts. Donald converted to make it 19-3.

Samoa had its best chance just before the break when Williams made a break but Lome Fa'atu was unable to gather the pass with a try in the offing.

The Juniors almost scored twice in the early stages of the second spell, Brian Lima making a try-saving tackle on Donald after the latter had scythed through, while Gear lost the ball by the line.

But they were not to be denied after 10 minutes when, after Cowan had sniped at the line, Filipo gathered the loose ball and was driven over. Donald converted from the sideline to make it 26-3.

Samoa produced its most menacing series of attacks but was thwarted by some stout defence, including a try-saving tackle by Brett on Mapusua.

But the Samoans were finally rewarded nine minutes from the end when prop Donald Kerslake burst down the touchline, Cowan threw a no-look pass which replacement centre David Lemi gathered to score. Williams converted from the sideline to make it 26-10.

However, the Juniors promptly struck back with their fifth try, Gear crossing for his second, to make it 31-10.

Junior All Blacks 31
Tries: Afoa, Gear, 2, Tuiali’i, Filipo.
Conversions: Donald 3

Samoa 10
Triesavid Lemi
Conversions: Williams
Penalties: Williams.

Halftime: 19-3.