Samoa 16-17 Scotland

Scotland secured a last-gasp, dramatic victory over Samoa to emerge from their South Pacific tour with a 100 per cent record at Apia Park this afternoon. It was the sweetest of debuts for Robert Harley, the 22-year-old Glasgow Warriors forward, whose try, converted by the immaculate Greig Laidlaw deep in stoppage time, enabled Scotland to escape with a 17-16 success. For the first time Scotland have thus won all three Test matches on a Southern Hemisphere tour.    In the first-half Scotland had replied to an earlier Tusi Pisi drop-goal with a well-crafted try in which Joe Ansbro – a late call-up for the injured Nick De Luca – was rewarded for his persistence with a score from a close-range ruck after Richie Gray had launched Exocet-like at the line. Laidlaw’s conversion, from the left touchline into a difficult wind, was a stunning kick but it’s the measure of the man, whose only goal kick miss on tour was in the very worst of the conditions in Newcastle against Australia, that he goaled it without as much as a murmur. Pisi pulled back a second penalty for 7-6 lead to the visitors at half-time. Samoa started the second-half like men possessed and Pisi’s second penalty gave them the lead. Scotland, energised by Mike Blair, a substitute for Chris Cusiter, sparked and from Blair’s quick tap penalty, Samoa infringed at the breakdown for Laidlaw to regain the advantage for the visitors at 10-9. Samoa then forged a fine try with Pisi setting up Paul Williams whose return pass was sublime. Pisi converted his own try and Scotland were looking down the barrell. They pummelled away at the Samoan line and there was some formidable defence from the hosts. Had Scotland lost their chance when they could make little headway having opted for a scrum in the shadow of the Samoan posts rather than nudging over a kickable penalty? If anyone thought so, they had forgotten to mention it to Blair. A stunning charge-down meant the pressure was applied tourniquet like on the Samoans and when Scotland opted for last chance saloon time – a tap penalty close to the left touchline – it was Blair with an exquisite pass that saw Harley thunder over for a glorious debut try. Laidlaw’s conversion downed the Samoans.