2 Nov 2014

Kiwis edge impressive Samoa

11:50 am on 2 November 2014

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney was a relieved man after his side escaped with a 14-12 win over Samoa in an absorbing Four Nations rugby league clash in Whangarei

Shaun Johnson of New Zealand makes a break against Josh McGuire of Samoa.

Shaun Johnson of New Zealand makes a break against Josh McGuire of Samoa. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Samoa led for most of the contest on Saturday before being sunk by a try to centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall five minutes from time.

Kearney admitted he was "bloody nervous" with about 15 minutes to go.

He had anticipated a tough challenge from Samoa and his players had prepared that way, but what they got exceeded expectations.

"We were a little bit off the ball and that's the lesson for us," he said.

"I thought Samoa were wonderful and really took it to us."

New Zealand have two wins from two matches, but their performance against Samoa was well below what they produced in thumping Australia 30-12 last week.

Kearney partly put the Kiwis' display down to what the Samoans brought with them.

"Just the tenacity that they defended with and the energy that they carried the ball," he said.

"A lot of credit has to go with them."

Samoa also came close in round one, losing to England 32-26, and coach Matt Parish took issue with the officiating in both matches.

"Last week there were three video decisions that went against us, cost us 14 points," he said.

"Today we led all but at the end, got penalised 6-2 in the second half in a tough game.

"We've got a squad of shattered blokes down there. What do you say to them?

"Do you think they could do any more than they did today? No, I don't either."

The referee against the Kiwis was New Zealander Henry Perenara, who was also the video referee for the England Test.

Asked if a neutral should have controlled the fixture at Toll Stadium, Parish said: "That's an understatement."

However, Parish also said the Kiwis' key players stood up when they needed to, and he repeated a prediction he made during the week.

"I'm not taking anything away from them," he said.

"Again, I think they're going to win the tournament."

Both sides scored three tries, but Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson landed the sole conversion in the windy conditions.

Samoa made a lively start, their forwards hitting the ball up with intent.

Samoa opened the scoring six minutes in when Tautau Moga made an intercept and scampered 70 metres to the line.

Kieran Foran answered three minutes later with a try converted by Shaun Johnson, but the Kiwis wouldn't hold the lead for long.

With 17 minutes gone, the Samoan winger Daniel Vidot got on the end of a Ben Roberts grubber to score in the corner and give the visitors an 8-6 half time lead.

After the break it was Samoa who again scored first through Jospeh Leilua, leaving the Kiwis to play catch up football.

Jason Nightingale scored in the corner for Kiwis in the 66th minute but the hosts still trailed by two after Johnson missed the conversion.

With fatigue setting into both camps, it was the New Zealanders who kept their composure in the dying minutes to send Shaun Kenny-Dowell over for the match winning try.

The match was preceded by a minute's silence for 17-year-old Luke Tipene, a New Zealand age group representative who was killed in a mass brawl in Auckland in the early hours of Saturday.

The Kiwis are now on top of the Four Nations table following their opening round win over Australia, but England could move into top spot if they beat the Kangaroos on Sunday in Melbourne.