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.

"Eradications are expensive, but once complete, you don't have to worry about that pest species as long as you prevent new introductions," said Mr Richard Griffiths from the agency Island Conservation.

There have been more than 500 successful eradications around the world, some described at the PILN2016 conference last week.

The 2017 edition of the OFC U-17 Championship will be held in Papeete, Tahiti in February 2017 with preliminary stage winners Samoa joining the hosts, defending champions New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

Just one side was seeded for the draw – hosts Tahiti into position A1 – with the remaining teams drawn into positions at random.

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.

Following their week in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga will return home wondering what might have been following two matches which could have potentially ended quite differently.

For the side coached by former American Samoa U-20 international Fred Maiava there are a lot of positives to take from this competition, and improving over the course of the three games is one of them.

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)

Cook Islands opened the tournament with a 3-2 victory over Tonga before hosts Samoa held on to an early lead to secure a 3-0 win over rivals American Samoa yesterday.

It wasn’t a pretty win for Cook Islands as they struggled to impose their game against their physical and fleet-footed opponents.

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga are bidding for a place in the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship and as the results of last month’s U-20 Preliminary showed, it’s no easy run for any team.

Cook Islands have history on their side at this level having made it through qualifying to take part in the 2013 OFC U-17 Championship in Vanuatu, and the nation will be buoyant after the success of the U-20 team.

But for the four nations taking part in next month’s OFC U-17 Championship Preliminary tickets to Tahiti represents the welcome result of some hard graft.

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga will all compete for the sole berth remaining at the OFC U-17 Championship and the rivalry is expected to be fierce.

Tonga captain Hemaloto Polovili marked his return from a one match suspension with a well taken low drive from the edge of the box to give his side the lead inside 10 minutes.

The skipper grabbed his second half 30 minutes later as the hosts raced two a 2-0 first half lead.

Samoa did manage to regroup to come out with intent after the break.

Their never-say-die attitude paid dividends in 66th minute when Pago Tunupopo pulled a goal back by netting from close range.