4 Oct 2010

Oceania title a boost for Australia ahead of Delhi

12:04 pm on 4 October 2010

Australia upset reigning world sevens champions Samoa 34-12 to claim their first ever Oceania Sevens Championship in Darwin on Saturday.

It was the first time the hosts had beaten Samoa this year and coach Michael O'Connor says it was a great feeling to get the monkey off their back, especially with the Commonwealth Games looming.

Samoan coach Stephen Betham says while it was disappointing to lose, he had a number of new players in his side and he's confident the tournament has provided them with good preparation for Delhi.

In the third place playoff Tonga scored a try on fulltime to beat Papua New Guinea 12-7.

The victory qualifies Tonga for next year's Hong Kong Sevens, as well as the Wellington and Adelaide Legs of the World Series.