BRAVEHEARTS GIVE ALL

SAMOA 14 SCOTLAND 14

DEPLETED Scotland failed to qualify for the last eight on points difference – but restored pride with an heroic effort in Cairns.

Steve McCormack’s side had shipped 124 points in defeats to Tonga and New Zealand and were missing 17 players, including Danny Brough, Johnny Walker and Sam Brooks – sent home in disgrace after they were too drunk to board a plane during the tournament.

But they came within inches of making the quarter-finals only for Danny Addy’s (right) late penalty to drift just wide. Lewis Tierney and Frankie Mariano scored tries as the Scots led from the fifth minute to the 66th.

TONGA produced the result of the tournament so far by beating New Zealand 28-22, meaning that they are likely semi-final opponents for England in Auckland on Saturday, November 25.