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Australia and Samoa both looked on course to meet in tomorrow’s Oceania Sevens Championships final after going unbeaten during the opening day’s pool play.

Both sides are gaining invaluable game-time at Darwin’s Austar Park ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi (11-12 October).

Hosts Australia went unbeaten on Friday but were made to work hard by both Tonga (21-12) and the Cook Islands (19-7). Influential playmaker James Stannard continued his good form from earlier this year with a well taken brace and amassed 42 points throughout the day.

Things were easier for the Aussies in the 57-0 win over Vanuatu with NSW teenager Jason Seage making a dream start to his sevens career with a try on debut. Luke Morahan and Pat McCutcheon both touched down for two tries apiece.

Defending World Series champions Samoa breezed past Nieu (31-5) in their first encounter of the tournament. Alatasi Tupou then starred against Tahiti crossing for four tries in a 50-0 humbling before the islanders finished up with a 24-7 win over Papua New Guinea (PNG) with try-machine Mikaele Pesamino one of the scorers.

The Samoans will face Vanuatu in tomorrow’s second round with the Australians set to meet Tahiti in the Northern Territory.

The flamboyant PNG have also looked dangerous beating Tahiti (38-0) and crowd favourites Nieu (27-10).

Day 1 Results:

Samoa 24 PNG 7
Australia 21 Tonga 12
Nieu 38 Tahiti 0
Cook Islands 21 Vanuatu 10
PNG 27 Niue 10
Tonga 22 Cook Islands 14
Samoa 50 Tahiti 0
Australia 57 Vanuatu 0
Samoa 31 Niue 5
Australia 19 Cook Islands 7
PNG 38 Tahiti 0
Tonga 52 Vanuatu 0

Day 2 Schedule:

Match A Samoa v Vanuatu 4:30pm
Match B PNG v Cook Islands 4:52pm
Match C Niue v Tonga Austar Rugby Park 5:14pm
Match D Tahiti vAustralia 5:36pm
Match E Northern Territory team v Northern Territory team 5:58pm

Round 3
Match F Loser Match A v Loser Loser Match D 6:42pm
Match H Winner Match A v Winner Match B 7:04pm
Match I Winner Match C v Winner Match D 7:26pm
Match J Northern Territory RU team v Northern Territory RU team 7:48pm

Finals
7th/8th Playoff Loser Match F v Loser Match G 8:10pm
5th/6th Playoff Winner Match F v Winner Match G 8:32pm
3rd/4th Playoff Loser Match H v Loser Match I 8:54pm

FINAL Winner Match H v Winner Match 1 9:16pm