Four Nations 2014: New Zealand downs gallant Toa Samoa in epic Test Toa Samoa pushed New Zealand all the way but were overrun in the dying stages in a gripping Four Nations encounter. Kevin Proctor tries to break through the Samoan defence. TOA Samoa pushed New Zealand all the way but were overrun in the dying stages in an epic Four Nations encounter. Both teams scored three tries apiece and Shaun Johnson's conversion, the only one of the afternoon from either side in the swirling Whangarei conditions, proved the difference as the Kiwis scraped home 14-12. Leading 12-10 in the final 10 minutes the Samoans were clinging grimly to their lead with some bone-jarring defence. Having just narrowed the gap through a Jason Nightingale try, it was another piece of magic from the same player that gave the Kiwis a winning lead. Shaun Kenny Dowall touches down to score the winning try against Samoa. Seemingly wrapped up by the Samoan defence, Nightingale got a miracle offload away to Issac Luke with the ball then going through the hands for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to score. It was a devastating blow to the men in blue who had led for most of the afternoon. "They (Samoa) played a great game and we didn't match them," New Zealand captain Simon Mannering conceded as he blamed complacency for a mistake-laden Kiwi performance. We weren't playing with patience out there. Everyone was guilty of it. We wanted to improve throughout the tournament but that was definitely a few steps backwards. A dejected Samoan captain David Fa'alogo could not hide his frustration at watching the chance of an historic victory slip away. Issac Luke on the burst against Samoa. "I'm very disappointed," he said. I'm proud of our players. They put in a massive effort and didn't come away with the reward that we wanted. I thought in the last six minutes momentum went towards the Kiwis and they managed to get a few passes together to get the try. If England, who narrowly downed Samoa in the first round, beat Australia in Melbourne on Sunday then the two unbeaten sides will be the confirmed finalists with a round to spare. However, should Australia win then the finalists will not be decided until after next weekend when Australia play Samoa and England play New Zealand. It was the second week in a row that Samoa had come up agonisingly short, after their defeat by England in Brisbane. Frank Pritchard made plenty of inroads throughout the afternoon. Jason Taumalolo proved tough to stop. Samoa made a lively start, their forwards hitting the ball up with intent. But it was while the Kiwis were hot on attack that Samoa took a surprise lead in the sixth minute, winger Tautau Moga intercepting a Hiku pass and scoring an 80-metre runaway try. The home struck back quickly, five-eighth Kieran Foran running into a hole and then forcing his way over. But Samoa went in front again after an excellent backline move ended with winger Daniel Vidot latching on to Ben Roberts" deft kick ahead. The Kiwis had their chances to strike back, but their execution let them down. Up 8-6 at the break, the Samoans extended that following a brilliant solo try to Joey Leilua, the best player on the field. Suaia Matagi is wrapped by the Samoan defence. Leilua produced a big fend on Kenny-Dowall before touching down. The match was preceded by a minute's silence for 17-year-old Luke Tipene, a New Zealand age group representative, who was killed in a mass brawl in Auckland in the early hours of Saturday. NEW ZEALAND 14 (K Foran S Kenny-Dowall J Nightingale tries S Johnson goal) bt SAMOA 12 (J Leilua T Moga D Vidot tries) Originally published as Kiwis down gallant Samoans in epic Test