Samoa claimed seventh place in Division A at the IRB Under 19 World Championship 2007 after Argentinean replacement Ignacio Poet Belmonte missed a late conversion to see his side lose 13-12 at Shaw’s Bridge.
Replacement Facundo Corimayo scored with only a matter of minutes remaining in the match to bring Argentina to within a point, and while Belmonte’s conversion appeared to be on target to snatch victory, it drifted wide of the upright to break Argentinean hearts.
Belmonte himself had made the break down the right wing that led to the score before seeking support inside him. A series of tapped penalties followed as Argentine pressure told, before Corimayo scored his side’s second try of the match.
The seventh place playoff had begun evenly with both sides appearing tentative and Samoa missing the presence of their injured full back and goal kicker Titi Jnr Esau. It was the Pacific Islanders though, who opened the scoring first.
Samoan advantage
It may have taken 15 minutes for the first score, but some sustained pressure inside the Argentinean 22 eventually resulted in a penalty, which Samoan captain and scrum half Alatasi Tupou slotted between the posts.
Samoa increased their seven minutes later following a well-taken David Masoe try. The wing was involved early on in breaking out of defence and it was Masoe, after numerous forward drives, who took the ball short and converted from close range.
Argentina’s drive for what would be only their second victory shone through as centre Juan Pablo Socino took the ball up well, dummied an offload to the support outside him and instead looked inside and found flanker Marcus Insua, who crossed after 28 minutes.
Nicolás Andres kicked the conversion, but it was Samoa who held an 8-7 lead at half time. Within three minutes of the restart this lead had been extended following another try orchestrated by some great work by fly half Salevi Leota.
Nervous finish
He used centre Thretton Palamo effectively to punch holes in the South American Under 19 champions’ defence, with hooker Atenai Ali eventually going over for the try that gave Samoa a 13-7 advantage.