PRC: Upolu upset Gold to win their first of the Tournament

Upolu Samoa has scored an upset 24-20 win over Tautahi Gold to avoid the ignominy of being the first team to progress through the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup without a win.

The Upolu team overcame a lacklustre first half to score two tries in the opening 14 minutes of the second half to set up a commanding 19-5 lead that Tautahi were unable to bridge. The win was Upolu's first of the tournament. Tautahi scored two bonus points however, to keep their final hopes alive - however they need the Warriors to lose by 25 points (and not score a bonus point) to qualify for the final.

It wasn't until the second half that the game opened up. In a dour first half, neither team was able to gain the ascendency and both teams headed into the change rooms at 5-all. Certainly Tautahi enjoyed superior possession but too many handling areas stifled their attacking opportunities. Conversely, the Upolu backs had to survive on scraps and whilst looking dangerous at times, their ventures into the Tautahi half were few and far between.

A try to Tautahi in the 11th minute gave the Tongan's an early 5-0 lead after back rower Kelepi Halafihi crashed over from behind a ruck after some good lead-up work by the Gold backs. The Golds simply strung too many phases together and ended up with superior numbers.
Upolu bounced back with winger Pesamino Alauni scoring the first of his two tries on the back of an impressive backline move, allowing him to touch down in the right corner. Unable to convert his own try, the scores were locked at 5-all in the 32nd minute and remained unchanged for the remainder of the half.

Upolu got off to the best possible start in the second half with a try to centre Esera Lauina, when he barged his way through the Tautahi defence to touch down under the posts. The try was routinely converted by Pesamino Alauni to give Upolu a 12-5 lead 3 minutes into the second half.

Lauina was in again for his second in the 14th minute of the half thanks to an outstanding individual try when he regathered a neat grubber kick to score in the left corner. The try was converted from touch by Alauni to give Upolu a 19-5 lead.

Tautahi bounced back 8 minutes later with a try to reserve Afele Tongia on the back of one of Tautahi's increasingly dominant rolling mauls. 19-10 to Upolu.

Upolu #8 Paea Siulangapo was sent to the bin in the 31st for a high tackle but the advantage was short lived for the Gold when reserve hooker Tony Keresoma was sent to the bin the very next minute for an illegal tackle.

A try in the 34th minute to reserve back Petelo Tupou brought the Gold back into the match 15-19 and set the game up for an intriguing final stanza.

Upolu winger Pesamino Alauni crossed for his second after a crucial turnover in the Gold 22 to give them a bonus point and a commanding 24-15 lead with only minutes remaining.

Gold reserve Efele Tongia crashed over for his second try of the match with a barnstorming run to bring Tautahi back within striking distance 24-20 with just a minute to go. But unfortunately for the tournamentís early leaders, it was too little too late and at the end of the day, they were simply unable to pull back the 19-5 lead established by Upolu early in the second half.