SYDNEY, Australia — Australia A fullback Mark Gerrard missed a last-minute penalty, allowing the New Zealand Maori to escape with a 21-18 win Sunday to clinch the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament.

Thomas Waldrom scored in the 76th minute to give the Maori the lead and Piri Weepu added the conversion before Gerrard came up just short on his 45-meter penalty attempt after the hooter sounded.

Had the match finished in a draw, first-place Australia A would have won the title because it had 19 points from its previous four matches to 17 for the New Zealand Maori, and the Australians had a superior points differential.

Australia A got two tries from league convert Timana Tahu, while Maori co-captain Tamati Ellison atoned for some earlier defensive lapses on Tahu to set up the match-winner when he darted down the right flank before inpassing to Waldrom to surge over.

The New Zealand side led 14-7 at halftime after tries by Tanerau Latimer and Liam Messam.

New Zealand Maori head coach Donny Stevenson said his side won despite often poor play.

"In the end we had some experienced guys to get us through but we didn't make it easy for ourselves, we were really scrambling at the end," Stevenson said.

"We thought if we could put some phases together the opportunities would come, but we lost the ball at critical times. I was concerned at some of the decision making."

In other final round results, Samoa scored five tries to four to beat Japan 37-31 at Apia. The teams went to halftime tied 17-17 but Samoa eked out a small advantage in the second half in a skillful and fast-paced match.

The result lifted Samoa to third and Japan to fifth place in the six-nation competition. Tonga, which beat Fiji 27-16 Saturday for its first win of the tournament, still finished in last place while Fiji dropped back to fourth.

Samoa's tries went to veteran loose-forward Semo Sititi, Loleni Tafunai, Heroshi Tea, Anitelea Tuilagi and James Johnson while Gavin Williams, son of former All Black Bryan Williams, kicked three conversions and two penalties.

Japan scored tries through Hare Makiri, winger Bryce Robins, Hirotoki Onozawa and Takashi Kikutani. James Arlidge converted all four tries and kicked a penalty.

Scorers:

New Zealand Maori 21 (Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Thomas Waldrom tries; Piri Weepu 2 con, Callum Bruce con) Australia A 18 (Timana Tahu 2 tries; Mark Gerrard 2 pen, Daniel Halangahu con). Halftime: 14-7.