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New Zealand's Tim Mikkelson. - Source: Getty -
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New Zealand beat Samoa 19-7 in their final pool match at the Wellington Sevens tonight to top Pool A.
New Zealand cranked it up another gear to put in their best performance in their final game and against their strongest opposition, after earlier starting with a shaky 22-7 win over Scotland then later thrashing Japan 54-0 .
After the devastating news that Toby Arnold, who suffered a serious knee injury early in the first game against Scotland, could be looking at six to nine months on the side lines, the Kiwis' defence was nearly impeccable.
Charles Piutau put on the big step from the scrum formed on the Kiwis' 22, breaking away to find Frank Halai for the first, spectacular try of the game.
Tim Mikkelson scored the second equally impressive try seconds out from the half time hooter.
Tomasi Cama looked to be going nowhere, going backwards into his own 22 before popping a little sneaky pass to Mikkelson who streak away down the right-hand side, stepping past Uale Mai to score under the posts.
Two minutes into the second spell Solomon King looked to be just assessing his options as he cruised down the right-hand side towards halfway, before he whacked on a vicious fend straight into Afa Aiono's face and put the afterburners on to score.
The match featured an ugly incident three minutes into the half when a spectator got onto the field of play and high-tackled Samoa's Alatasi Tupou.
Samoa scored a consolation try to Alafoti Faosiliva, but with seconds remaining that was all the scoring action.
NZ will meet France at 2.33pm tomorrow in their Cup quarter-final.
Wellington Sevens fixtures and restults .
Wellington Sevens live on TV One and live-streamed on tvnz.co.nz on Friday and Saturday. Plus catch up OnDemand.
