The Junior All Blacks laid down a marker to their challengers for the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009 title with a commanding 45-17 win over Fiji at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
In the other match on day two of the tournament, Samoa defeated Japan 34-15 at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
The Junior All Blacks lead the standings on nine points, having played two matches. Samoa, who lost by one point to the Junior All Blacks in their first PNC match, lie second with six points.
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Fiji 17-45 Junior All Blacks
The majority of the expectant 10,000 fans at Churchill Park went home disappointed after a well-drilled Junior All Black outfit proved too strong for Fiji.
Hosea Gear scored the first and last of seven Junior All Black tries with the rest coming at regular intervals throughout the match. For Fiji, scrum half Nemia Kenatale Ranuku scored their only try of the first half. Sakiusa Matadigo and Iliesa Keresoni added further Fiji scores in the second half.
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Japan 15-34 Samoa
Samoa’s six tries earned them a valuable bonus-point win over Japan in the other PNC match on Thursday.
Samoa led 12-0 at half time before Jack Tarrant and Hirotoki Onozawa scored soon after the break to tie the match up at 12-12.
But that was to be the last score by Japan as Samoa took control of the match.
Semo Sititi, who made the first of his 57 Test appearances for Samoa against Japan in 1999, came off the bench to score one of Samoa’s second-half tries.
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Next round
The next round of matches takes place on Tuesday 23 June at Churchill Park. Samoa play Tonga before Japan face the Junior All Blacks.
