Tautahi Gold beats Upolu Samoa 18-13 [1]
Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 18:29. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 19:54.
By Pesi Fonua
The Upolu Samoa was beaten 18-13 by the Tautahi Gold at Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, this afternoon in the fourth round of the IRB Pacific Cup Tournament.
The ground was wet and it was overcast throughout the game but it was probably the most exciting game that has been played at Teufaiva, during the 2007 tournament
During the first half both sides took turns in attacking the goal line, to see who was going to score the first try. The Tautahi Gold twice were awarded two convertable penalties but instead chose to go for the goal line.
Half-way through the first half Upolu Samoa settled down and their No. 10 successfully converted two penalties, and Upolu was leading 6-0. With points up on the scoreboard, Upolu was on fire then they crossed the line for the first try of the game. The conversion by the No. 10 was successful and they were leading 13-0.
In the dying minutes of the first half the Tautahi was awarded a penalty, and this time they decided to take the three points instead of going for a try. The Tautahi No. 10 Fangatapu 'Apikotoa was successful and at the break Upolu was leading 13-3.
At the beginning of the second half, the Tautahi came out firing, and within two minutes the Tautahi No. 8 'Aleki Takataka crashed through the Upolu defence to score. It was an easy conversion by Fangatapu and the score stood at 13-10.
About half way through the second half the game appeared to have slowed down until Fangatapu was successful with another conversion to make it 13-13, and the crowd thought that was going to be the outcome. Then for the first time in the game the Tautahi decided to use the full capacity of their back line, and their No. 14 scored the try of the match. Fangatapu missed the conversion and at the end of the game the Tautahi Gold won 18-13.