Canada 23-25 Samoa: D'Angelo Leuila keeps Canada at bay in Grenoble
Last Updated: 28/11/16 11:14am
D'Angelo Leuila scored 20 points as Samoa beat Canada 25-23 in Stade des Alpes on Friday night.
The fly-half slotted four penalties, two drop goals and a conversion to go with a try from Paul Perez as Samoa resisted a second-half fightback from the Canadians.
DTH van der Merwe scored twice for Canada, his second coming in the dying seconds, while Evan Olmstead added one of his own and Connor Braid contributed eight points with his boot.
Perez got the scoring underway in the ninth minute, dotting down in the corner for his side's only try of the match. Leuila added the conversion and increased his side's lead with a drop goal two minutes later. The No 10 then sent a penalty attempt over to put his side firmly in charge.
Braid brought his side back into it with a penalty, and after the two fly-halves traded further shots at goal the Samoans led 16-6 at the break.
Leuila added another three from the tee shortly after half-time, but Canada started to wrestle their way into the game late in the third quarter. Close to the hour mark Taiasina Tu'ifua was sent to the bin for a high tackle on Matt Evans, and Canada made the advantage count immediately as Olmstead crossed for his try, which went unconverted.
Jamie Cudmore was then shown a yellow card for his part in a scuffle, but Canada were still next on the board, with Van der Merwe crossing for his first. Braid once again missed the conversion, which left Samoa 19-16 ahead with 15 minutes remaining.
Leuila then sent a second drop goal over and provided his fourth penalty to put his side nine points ahead before Van der Merwe's second try in the closing stages and Braid's conversion made it a two-point game on the final whistle.
