USA 32 Cook Islands 20: match report However, the USA settled quickly and Priestly's perfectly-executed 40-20 laid the platform for the half-back to put wing Faraimo over in the corner. The conversion was off target but when the wind again played havoc with the high ball they had their second try, as Petersen went in after skipper Paulo had gathered in the ball. Paulo further extended their lead with a 27th minute penalty after forcing repeat sets with an astute kick, and they looked in control. However, their opponents found some fluency, and their second try, before the break. Centre Keith Lulia made a forceful midfield break to set up a position from which full-back Low cut through to level matters. Parity only lasted 55 seconds of the second half. Takairangi dallied over his kick on the last tackle and Paulo charged down before gathering and cantering over from 30 metres, although the Parramatta stand-off could not add the testing touchline conversion. The see-saw nature of the contest continued as Lulia Lulia crossed out wide after sharp work from Low, and the sides were level again. Wigan's Anthony Gelling knocked on short of the line, and the failure to take the chance proved costly as the Americans once again hit the front, Samoa seizing on a loose pass from Paulo to skip past two tackles and score Paulo added the conversion with the aid of the post but the response was immediate as Peyroux acrobatically pounced on a dropping ball from John's high ball to the right-hand side to dot down with Rapana holding his nerve from the tee to put the game back in the balance. But Offerdahl struck with nine minutes remaining, bursting on to Paulo's delayed pass. Priestly then gathered a towering Paulo up and under to ground the clinching try, with Paulo having the final word with a late penalty.