Samoa

RNZ reports the 28 year old was born and bred in the United States but said he had been overwhelmed by the support he's received from the Samoan community, and is hoping to repay that faith on the track.

"It's the biggest stage and there's no better way to make a big statement than at the biggest stage. Hopefully when I get down there some great expectations will come to fruition and it can come out of it a great experience in the end," he said.

With the result of the tournament already decided, the two teams were playing for pride with Japan hoping to get their first win of the competition.

But Samoa proved too strong again, to win by three wickets in the 43rd over.

Japan's batting continued their improved run to reach 8/135 at the end of their 50 overs.

Former captain Shizuka Miyaji led the way, top scoring with 27, while Etsuko Kobayashi continued her good form with 25.

For Samoa, player of the match Lagi Otila Telea (2/23) was the pick of the bowlers, picking up two wickets.

Samoa won the toss and elected to bat and were all bowled out for a measly 136 runs.

Lewas right hand off spin bowler, Sibona Jimmy was instrumental snaring 4/24.

The Lewas run chase started off badly with Jimmy and Kopi John dismissed cheaply.

Captain Pauke Siaka and Konio Oala took charge of the run chase and guided the Lewas to a 102 runs after 27 overs.

Oala’s dismissal brought to the crease Veru Frank who with Siaka put on a partnership of 51 to reach the target in 34.5 overs.

Siaka was named player of the match.

Of the team that won gold last year, ten players return to this year’s squad for the tournament in Apia.

This includes captain Regina Lili’I and current Samoa Cricket development manager and vice-captain, Perelini Mulitalo, who will play in her fifth regional women’s qualifier.

The team will also feature several new faces including Faamitai Anitoni, Velder Levaula and Filimaua Malo while Letelesa Autagavia returns to the team for the first time since 2012.

Men:

Samoa - Nevo Ioane (62kg category)

Australia – Simplice Ribouem (94kg category)

New Zealand - Richard Patterson (85kg category)

Fiji - Manueli Tulo (56kg category)

Kiribati - David Katoatau (105kg category)

Nauru - Elson Brechtefeld (56kg category)

American Samoa: Tanumafili Jungblut (94kg category)

PNG -Morea Baru (62kg) category

Women:

Samoa - Mary Opeloge (75kg category)

Australia - Tia-Clair Toomey (58kg category)

New Zealand - Tracey Lambrechs (+75kg category)

Thirteen minutes into the game, PNG flanker Micheal Foster found an opening to belt a powerful right footy into the goal to lead 1-0.

Samoans fought hard to cross into the PNG territory but faced a strong Komolong-brother combination that held them off the half-way line.

Raymond Gunemba then bagged the second goal for PNG in the 32nd minute with a stunning dribble in front of the goal mouth, avoiding the Samoan opponents before slotting it behind the net for 2-nil.

After leading 2-0 at half time, the host team added six more goals on the board, beating the helpless Samoans in a one-sided match.

PNG’s flanker Michael Foster opened the second half with his second goal before striker Nigel Dabinyaba added another point for a clear 4-0 lead.

Raymond Gunemba finds the net once again after a cross for his second to put PNG on the line for a decider to qualify as forward Koriak Upaiga sealed the deal with a chip over the goalkeeper for a 6-0 lead.

It's the first tournament victory for the Manu since Dubai in 2012 and reverses a 42-5 hiding suffered at the hands of their Pacific rivals in pool play a day earlier.

Head coach Damian McGrath was full of praise for his players.

"I never in my wildest dreams when we woke up this morning thought that we could go through the day. We played three probably the most physical teams here in South Africa, Argentina and then Fiji and to put in the sort of performance that we did made me really proud."

Nearly 50 of the players involved are already on NRL rosters. 

Saturday’s blockbuster schedule will see the Junior Kangaroos take on their Kiwi counterparts, before Fiji and Papua New Guinea lock horns. 

Samoa will clash with Tonga in the second test. 

“It’s definitely going to be physical, no player is going to be holding back, it’s just the history of the two nations," Samoa captain Frank Pritchard told SBS News. 

"Come Saturday I’m sure there will be a lot of fans running on the ground at the end of the game.” 

It says the tropical cyclone warning category two for Samoa in now cancelled.

But a tropical cyclone warning category one in remains in effect for the eastern side of Upolu.

At 4am local time, tropical Cyclone Amos Category three was about 95 kilometres east of Faleolo or 72 kilometres east of Apia.

Tropical cyclone Amos is moving east-southeast at 30 kilometres an hour and is weakening slowly.

Forecasters predict sustained winds of 148 kilometres an hour close to the centre, easing to 130 kilometres an hour in the next 12 hours.