Upolu Samoa continued the unbeaten start to their defence of the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup title with a 22-5 defeat of Fiji Barbarians away from home at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Friday.
The defending champions, who had beaten Tau'uta Reds 20-12 in the opening round last weekend, had to come from behind to record the victory though, after wing Vima Tuidraki had given the Barbarians the lead with a ninth minute try before the 3,000 strong crowd.
Fiji Barbarians' lead only lasted seven minutes before Upolu Samoa's own left wing Pulemalie Sopo touched down for a try, converted by one of Samoa Sevens stars in full back Lolu Lui to give the visitors a 7-5 lead.
The score remained that way until half time as both sides missed with penalty attempts with a yellow card for flanker Simaika Mikaele, another Samoan Sevens regular, just before the half hour mark in the match.
Fiji Barbarians rang the changes in the opening quarter after the interval, a period which saw centre Gasolo Salima stretch Upolu Samoa's advantage with a try in the 54th minute, a score again converted by Lui.
Salima touched down again 11 minutes later and although Lui missed the conversion that time, the full back added a penalty shortly afterwards to give Upolu Samoa a 22-5 lead and allow their coach Fepuleai Selefuti Patu to introduce all of his bench to the fray.
Upolu Samoa now return home for their remaining matches in the round robin stage, the first being against Fiji Warriors in April on 2 May, while Fiji Barbarians will face Tau'uta Reds in round three at Lawaqa Park.
Beaten finalists in 2007, Tau'uta Reds are still searching for their first victory after they were defeated 21-11 by Tautahi Gold at Teufaiva Stadium.
Tautahi Gold, who lost 21-19 to the Fiji Barbarians in the first week, welcomed back Nili Latu, Tonga captain in Rugby World Cup 2007, as they bounced back from their opening round defeat to Fiji Warriors.
It took only three minutes for Tautahi Gold to silence the home crowd with full back Setaleki Lu'au touching down to give his side a 5-0 lead. Fly half and captain Fangatapu Apikotota added the conversion before his Reds counterpart Vaea Poteki kicked a penalty to bring the score back to 7-3 in favour of the visitors.
Poteki added another penalty after half an hour, before Apikotota kicked two late first-half penalties to send Tautahi Gold into the break 13-7 ahead.
Reds Sione Masima's yellow card midway through the second half proved pivotal as first Apikotota with a penalty, and then Samisoni Pone with a try, stretched Tautahi Gold's lead to 21-6 whilst the Reds were down to 14 players.
After a raft of substitutions Reds' Saia Taufalele scored a try late on, but it was little more than a consolation score.
Tautahi Gold play Savai'I Samoa in their next match whilst Tau'uta Reds will be looking for their first win of the 2008 tournament, against Fiji Barbarians at Lawaqa Park.
Meanwhile, Savai'i Samoa also maintained a perfect start, with a 20-18 win over Fiji Warriors.
In beating the Warriors in a repeat of the inaugural final two years ago, Savai'i also maintained the impeccable start made to the tournament by the two Samoan sides.
Fly halves Ki Anufe and Waisea Luveniyali swapped penalties early on before Warriors hooker Veriniki Sauturaga crashed over for the game's opening try.
Luveniyali added the conversion for a 10-3 lead after 27 minutes and although Anufe notched two more penalties for the Samoan side to bring the scores back to within a point, openside flanker Aca Ratuva's try on the stroke of half time gave the Warriors a 15-9 lead.
Tupu Ulufale came on at half time for wing Aifou Faamausili and almost immediately made an impact, scoring after nine minutes, and when Anufe scored a fourth penalty the Samoans led 17-15.
A further Anufe three-pointer stretched the lead to five midway through the half and although Luveniyali pulled one back minutes later the Samoans were able to hold on in the tightest of finishes to win 20-18 and maintain the Samoan sides' dominance so far in this year's tournament.
With thanks to the IRB