admintop of the pool while Samoa are second.
The Samoans, semi-finalists at the last World Cup in 2009, started slowly against Zimbabwe and went in 14-7 down after tries from Jacques Leitao, Hondo and Gardener Nechironga.
Two early second-half tries from Afa Aiono and Faatoina Autagavaia put the Samoans back in the driving seat and they closed out the match in the face of persistent Zimbabwean resistance. Reupena Levasa kicked six points for Samoa from conversions.
“Some of the players haven’t played Sevens for a year, so they are just starting to get the feeling,” said Samoa coach Stephen Betham.
“It is our first game together as a team, some of the players were in 15s, so it was a wake-up call for them and tomorrow we have two more games.” It was in the third minute of the game that Zimbabwe captain Leitao found the opener to put Zimbabwe ahead as back-liner Tangai Nemadire added the bonus points through his boot.
Samoa replied with a sixth minute try through Tupou and Lolo Lui levelled the points but Zimbabwe were quick to reply with a Nechironga try that Nemadire converted as well to go into the break with the advantage. But that was the last time Zimbabwe found the Samoa in-goal.
With just a little less than a minute into the second half, Samoa came from behind again through an Aiono try and a minute later the world number four side added more pain to Zimbabwe with a converted Autagavaia try.
Despite making several substitutions, Zimbabwe could not get the desired victory though Kilvan Magunje’s last minute try attempt, after breaking loose, failed in heartbreaking fashion.
He was tackled and dropped the ball forward, marking the end of the game.
The Cheetahs are set to take on Kenya and the Phillipines today to round up their group games and only the top teams in each group are guaranteed of a Cup quarter-final.
This means that Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba and his men will have to at least finish among the best two runners-up, in the competition, if they are to make it and as things stand they will have to beat Kenya and, at least, thump the Philippines to make the last eight.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Fortunate Chipendu, Jacques Leitao (captain), Lucky Sithole, Njabulo Ndlovu, Garth Ziegler, Daniel Hondo, Tangai Nemadire, Gardner Nechironga, Wes Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Mike Morris, Kilvan Magunje.
Points Scores
Zimbabwe: Leitao, Nechironga (tries), Nemadire (two conversions)
Samoa: Tupou, Autagavaia, Aiono (tries), Levasa (two conversions), Lui (one conversion).
Online Reporter