The Oceania Cup has proved a steep learning curve for Pacific hockey teams.
The Fiji men beat Samoa 11-1 in Taranaki yesterday to finish third overall behind Australia and New Zealand.
The Fiji and Samoa men’s hockey teams during the 2015 Oceania Cup.
Photo: Oceania Hockey
Johnny Sega scored Samoa’s first Oceania Cup goal in the bronze playoff against Fiji, from a penalty corner, as the Polynesians showed progress from the 20-0 defeat to their Pacific neighbours during the week.
On Saturday Fiji were beaten 12-0 by New Zealand but, like their pool match against Australia, the final tally was a much close affair than when the teams last met.
Leevan Dutta finished with a tournament-best 12 goals over the week.
Meanwhile the Samoa women also finished behind Australia and New Zealand and were outclassed 11-0 by a New Zealand Invitational team, having lost 13-0 to the same side on Saturday.
Australia won both the men’s and women’s Oceania titles to qualify for the Rio Olympics.
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