Rugby Union / Hong Kong Sevens: Fiji lose sevens' title to Samoans

WESTERN SAMOA won their first Hong Kong Sevens title yesterday with a bruising 14-12 final triumph over Fiji, the favourites, who have won the title seven times.

The Samoans laid down the challenge with a ferocious war-dance and proceeded to play a strong physical game. They scored through Alefaio Vaisuai and Alama Ieremia while Anatelea Aiolupo knocked over two conversions. Mesake Rasari and Sakeasi Vonolagi managed tries for Fiji but the influential Waisale Serevi was strangely quiet and failed to lift the holders.

'We came here with a mission to beat New Zealand, to pay them back for a controversial loss last year. Once we won the semi-final against them we were confident of beating Fiji,' Danny Kaleopa, Western Samoa's captain, said.

Lolani Koko, originally picked for New Zealand but deciding to stick with his native Samoa, was the star against the All Blacks, scoring two superb tries in the 24-14 victory.

Fiji beat Australia in the other semi-final. Serevi scored three fine tries in the 17-14 win after Australia had scored through Tim Horan in the first minute. The Wallabies, however, were disrupted by the loss of David Campese soon afterwards.

Australia had sneaked into the last four with a 17-12 sudden-death win over a fired-up Ireland side. A try by Richard Wallace levelled the scores at 12-12 but Eric Elwood sliced his conversion badly. Michael Lynagh, Campese and Matthew Burke combined for the winning try in extra time.

The other quarter-final matches went to form: Fiji beat the Welsh President's VII 33-7; Western Samoa humbled Scotland 28-14; and New Zealand edged out South Africa 20-12.

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL SEVENS: Quarter- finals: Fiji 33 Welsh President's VII 7; Australia 17 Ireland 12; Western Samoa 28 Scotland 14; New Zealand 20 South Africa 12. Semi-finals: Fiji 17 Australia 14; Western Samoa 24 New Zealand 14. Final: Western Samoa 14 Fiji 12.