
Scotland scores 7 tries to beat Samoa 41-12 in the last match of its Pacific tour
Scoland set out to celebrate the end of its three-match tour on which it beat the New Zealand Maori and Samoa and lost to Fiji by playing attractive, high-tempo rugby. It succeeded despite the loss of several leading players to the British and Irish Lions in Australia.
Dobie was a constant attacking threat in the first half from both set play and in the loose. He moved to the wing in the second half as Scotland ran out of back replacements with a six-two split on the bench but remained a strong ball-carrier and willing defender.
Samoa was playing its first match in 2025 and had six players on debut including Niko Jones, son of former All Black Michael Jones and Jacob Umaga, nephew of former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.
Hooker Ewan Ashman scored Scotland's first try after eight minutes and it added others from center Rory Hutchinson and wingers Arron Reed and Kyle Steyn to lead 22-0 at halftime.
Samoa won more possession, had faster breakdown ball and was more competitive in the second half, scoring tries through lock Ben Petaia Nee-Nee and center Duncan Paia'aua who plays for Toulon in France. But Scotland picked up three further tries from lock Grant Gilchrist, fullback Kyle Rowe and replacement hooker George Turner.
'We knew Samoa were going to be really tough opposition today,' Scotland captain Rory Darge said. 'From our point of view the things we did better around the breakdown, around the discipline just made the game so much better for us. We're delighted with the performance.'
Ashman's opening try came from a lineout drive, peeling away to the blindside to touch down.
Hutchinson then won the race to Stafford McDowall's kick to score in the 13th minute. The Scotland midfield pair kicked well and the tourists won two 50-22s in the first half.
Reed scored off Dobie's accurate wide pass in the 31st minute and Dobie offloaded in a tackle as Steyn scored close to halftime.
Rowe was rewarded for a strong game with his second half try.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Onley the 'introverted extrovert' riding high
Team Picnic-Post NL describe Oscar Onley as "an introverted extrovert" who enjoys "lo-fi rap vibes", playing golf and eating risotto. Scottish Cycling reported how he "would be targeting stages, with the general classification being a secondary aim" in his second Tour de France. After finishing fourth overall in the standings, the 22-year-old from Kelso told how his achievement had sparked "a dream". By matching the achievement of compatriot Philippa York (then known as Robert Millar) in 1984, Onley equalled the best-ever finish by a Scottish rider. So who is the new exciting name in British cycling? And where can he go from here? 'Huge moment' as Onley matches Scottish record Tour fourth place Van Aert wins final stage as Pogacar seals Tour title Who is Oscar Onley? Those who follow cycling closely will know of Onley's steady progress since taking to the senior ranks in 2023 with his Dutch team. But his journey started in the Scottish Borders, when local club Kelso Wheelers' time trial route passed right by his front door and he got involved. Onley juggled lots of sports as a kid, particularly cross-country running, before committing to the bike. He described himself as "never the best" as a youngster, but as he grew physically his results picked up. His big breakthrough came at the Tour Down Under in 2024 when he won on the finish up Willunga Hill for his first professional victory. The Scot then managed second at the Tour of Britain. Amid all that he had to deal with two broken collarbones due to crashes. This year he has bounced back, and last month climbed on to the podium at the Tour de Suisse, winning stage five in the process. Forged in the rolling hills of the south of Scotland, Onley is most at home when the road gradient makes the legs strain and is based in the high mountains of Andorra. On the big behemoth mountain ranges, the Alps and Pyrenees, he has announced himself to a wider audience with a memorable Tour de France performance. 'It sparks a dream' - Onley reaction to finishing fourth in Tour Onley told ITV: "We never really had the plan to go for GC [general classification] in the beginning. It was more just see how it goes. "To be honest, I've never even thought about a top five in the Tour before, so to get it in my first try in GC is quite incredible and I'm excited for the future. "It gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races as well as these are the top guys and in top shape in the biggest race. So if I can do it here then why not in other races? "There was no pressure from the team. They've handled that really well because I think as soon as you say you are going for GC, there's a lot more attention on you. I've just taken every day as it's come really and not made any extra stress as the Tour is already stressful enough, just to ride and compete. "I'm really happy with how myself and the team have managed these three weeks. I guess this is a really big moment in my career. I don't really realise it yet, but I think just with talking to other riders, going forward now we have something to build on and an exciting project for the future, and it sparks a bit of a dream I guess." What's next for Onley? Picnic-Post NL are entered in the seven-stage Tour de Pologne in Poland, which starts on 4 August, though a final entry list for riders is not yet confirmed. The Vuelta a Espana from 23 August is the next major event on the circuit.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
The last Lions whitewash?
The Lions have not won a series whitewash for almost a century. Victory over Australia in the third Test on Saturday will deliver a first clean sweep since their tour of Argentina in 1927. The Lions, made up of English and Scottish players, won all four Test matches in somewhat humble beginnings for the Pumas. According to the Lions website, the River Plate Rugby Union – now Union Argentina de Rugby – recognised those four matches as the first official games of the Argentina national team. Can Maro Itoje become the first Lions captain since Scottish lock David MacMyn to lead the tourists to a series whitewash? Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fundraising page launched following Higham's cancer diagnosis
A FUNDRAISING campaign has been set up to help out rugby league legend Micky Higham following his latest cancer diagnosis. In June, the former hooker who counts St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors and hometown club Leigh among his former clubs during a 500-game career was diagnosed with widespread stage four cancer after discovering a lump on his lower back. It is the second such diagnosis for the 44-year-old, who had fought off stage three melanoma in 2022, but now his family are calling on the rugby league community for support. A JustGiving page has been set up for donations towards the family and potential access to promising clinical trials in Europe, with no such options available in the UK. At the time of writing, more than £23,000 of donations had been pledged with an initial target of £25,000 looking set to be beaten. A fundraising walk is also due to take place on Sunday, August 24, with full details to be confirmed in due course. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO DONATE