New Zealand beats Samoa 36-14 to win Pacific Championships

SYDNEY (AP) — New Zealand have reclaimed the Pacific Championships in emphatic fashion, storming home to a 36-14 victory over Samoa on Sunday and ended veteran Kieran Foran's 16-year international career on a high.

Trailing 14-6 at halftime, the Kiwis produced a dominant second half, running in five unanswered tries to deny Samoa their first international trophy and send home disppointed the overwhelmingly pro-Samoan sell-out crowd at Parramatta in Sydney’s west.

For much of recent years, New Zealand have been overshadowed by the rise of Pacific rivals Samoa and Tonga. But Sunday’s comeback, following dominant wins over both nations earlier in the tournament, was a strong statement ahead of the code's World Cup next year.

After Samoa led through tries to backs Brian To’o and Simi Sasagi, New Zealand’s took control with interchange forwards Naufahu Whyte and Erin Clark, and man of the match Dylan Brown heavily involved.

Second-half tries to Isaiah Papali’i, Casey McLean, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, and another to Papali’i sealed the win against the tiring Samoans.

“The boys dug so deep — I couldn’t be prouder,” Foran said. “To finish on a high with this group means everything.”

With a passionate crowd firmly in their corner Samoa took an early advantage when winger To'o dived over acrobatically in the corner after being played in by former Penrith Panthers teammate Jerome Luai.

Samoa doubled its advantage when Sasagi intercepted a pass by Foran to sprint 80 meters to score under the posts.

New Zealand responded with a deserved try when Whyte ran a clever line off Clark's pass to beat the Samoan goal line defense.

Talagi added a penalty goal in the last action of the half for a 14-6 lead at the break.

The half-time break appeared to help New Zealand regroup as they quickly reduced the deficit to two points after Foran and Brown combined to send over Papali’i, before a Jamayne Isaako penalty goal brought New Zealand level.

Clark then grabbed a deserved try when he barged over the whitewash from close range, before James Fisher-Harris created space for Brown to send winger Casey McLean over to extend the lead to 24-14.

Late tries to Papali’i and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad completed the second half rout as Samoa visibly wilted in the final minutes of an enthralling, fast-paced contest.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Toa Sāmoa fans react as they drive in a convoy through the streets of Lyall Bay in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 ahead of the Pacific Cup rugby league final against New Zealand in Sydney, Australia, Sunday Nov. 9. (AP Photo/Charlotte Graham-McLay)

Toa Sāmoa fans react as they drive in convoy through the streets of Lyall Bay in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 ahead of the Pacific Cup rugby league final against New Zealand in Sydney, Australia, Sunday Nov. 9. (AP Photo/Charlotte Graham-McLay)

Toa Sāmoa fans react as they drive in convoy through the streets of Lyall Bay in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 ahead of the Pacific Cup rugby league final against New Zealand in Sydney, Australia, Sunday Nov. 9. (AP Photo/Charlotte Graham-McLay)

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jose Fernandez strode to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning during his first big league game in a pressure-packed spot against four-time All-Star closer Kenley Jansen.

The three-run homer that followed capped one of the most powerful MLB regular-season debuts in modern history.

The Venezuelan became just the seventh player since 1900 to hit two homers in his debut, and the second was a go-ahead shot that led the Diamondbacks over the Detroit Tigers 7-5 on Tuesday night.

“I returned to my days as a kid — just a dream come true,” a smiling Fernandez said through an interpreter.

In a strange twist, two of the seven two-homer debuts have occurred over the past six days. Cleveland phenom Chase DeLauter went deep twice in his first career regular-season game last Thursday after making his MLB debut in the playoffs last season.

The 22-year-old Fernandez wasn't on the D-backs' opening-day roster, joining the team on Monday after Pavin Smith went on the 10-day injured list with left elbow soreness. He made the most of his first opportunity, finishing with three hits and four RBIs.

Not bad for a guy ranked as the No. 27 prospect in the organization, according to MLB.com

“He deserves all this credit,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re so proud of him. He’s a player who came through our system, through our academy, and it’s a great story, a great baseball story. We’ve known about Jose for a long time. We knew he was coming.”

Fernandez hit an infield single in his first big league at-bat and added a solo homer his next time up. The three-run drive that followed put him in elite company, joining DeLauter, Trevor Story (2016), J.P. Arencibia (2010), Mark Quinn (1999), Bert Campaneris (1964) and Bob Nieman (1951) as players with two-homer debuts.

“Stay calm, keep the emotions in check, I knew something like that could happen,” Fernandez said. “Just look for a pitch.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jose Fernandez (11) looks skyward after hitting a home run in his first game during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jose Fernandez, middle, celebrates his second home run with teammates Geraldo Perdomo, left, Alek Thomas, right, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jose Fernandez gets a gatorade bath after hitting two home runs and four RBI's in his first major league baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)