|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
No contest Wales scores six unaswered tries to rout Samoa
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) -- Wales scored six unanswered tries to punish a weakened Samoan team 50-6 on Saturday to gain some satisfaction after two humiliating World Cup losses to the island team. Hit by a boycott of the game by its big stars because of a pay dispute, the Samoans were overrun by the Welsh at the Millennium stadium in the first Northern Hemisphere international to be played under a closed roof. Winger Shane Williams scored two tries, centers Mark Taylor and Allan Bateman and lock forward Ian Gough added more and Australian referee Stuart Dickinson also awarded the Welsh a penalty try with Bateman impeded in a scoring position. Arwel Thomas, returning to the Welsh lineup for the first time since New Zealander Graham Henry took charge of the Welsh team more than two years ago, kicked 20 points with tour penalties and four conversions. The Millennium stadium had its roof closed because of heavy rain as the game started before 60,000 fans. But the Samoans were without stars such as Va'aiga Tuigamala and TrevorLeota because of their dispute with their own federation and fielded seven newcomers. Flyhalf Thomas kicked two early penalties before Samoan fullback Patu halved the lead with a goal for the visitor. After Thomas had kicked his third penalty, Welsh center Mark Taylor scored the first try five minutes before half time after taking a pass from scrum half Rob Howley. Thomas kicked the conversion and then landed his fourth penalty to give the Welsh a 19-3 half time lead. In a one-sided second half, the Welsh scored five second half tries while the only Samoan points came from penalties by Patu and Sanft.
Lineups: Samoa: Patu, Faasua, Soolefai, Tuilagi, Toala, Sanft, So'oiloa, Maligi, Vaeluaga, Mealamu, Poaching, Palepoi, P. Asi, Matauiau, Veiru. Referee: Stuart Dickinson, Australia.
| ||||||||||||||||
