Samoa edge towards RWC 2019 qualification with win over Germany

Samoa moved closer to qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup with a comfortable 66-15 victory in the first leg play-off against Germany. The home side, ranked 17th in the World Rankings (12 places higher than Germany), cruised to a 35-3 half-time lead thanks to tries from Alapati Leiua, Jack Lam and a double from both Melani Matavao and Ed Fidow. A penalty try and further efforts from Dwayne Polataivao, Joe Tekori and a third from Fidow rounded off a commanding performance. It was an historic first meeting between the two sides which came about in controversial circumstances. The Germans fin…