Commonwealth Youth Games

The first half between Samoa, bronze medallists when they hosted the 2015 edition, and England was a tense affair with the Pacific Islanders only taking the lead late on when Kelvin Masoe (pictured) broke free to score.

Frank Tato then finished off a free-flowing move to give Samoa a 10-0 lead but England ensured a nervous end to the match after Oliver Sleightholme, the son of former England international Jon, touched down to cut the deficit to five points.

“Your selection to represent your country is a huge ask upon yourselves, “said the Prime Minister.

“You have proven worthy to represent our country but this is just the beginning. For those of you who are praying for divine intervention to win, praying alone for your miracle to accomplish your sports goal is not enough because the Almighty only helps those who help themselves to realize their dreams. And that’s through hard work and commitment.”

Compared to the Pacific Games with only 18 countries, the Commonwealth Youth Games brings together 54 countries.

Organisers of the Commonwealth Youth Games say last week's event has inspired local athletes to dream big.

Samoa finished 12th on the overall medals tally, winning two gold, four silver and six bronze.

The chief co-ordinator for the 2015 Youth Games, Vitolio Lui, says it was the first time a lot of Samoa's athletes have come up against international class competition.

107 gold medals were won, 40 countries flags raised, nine sports were played and up to 1000 young Commonwealth athletes aged 14-18 competed.

Australia, South Africa and England were the top teams on the medals table with Australia bringing in an impressive 24 golds.

The Games in Samoa has been seen as a huge success.

Maeu Nanai Livi triumphed in the Men's 85kg weightlifting division with a combined lift of 253kg.

It capped a good day for the hosts, with Feagaiga Stowers winning silver in the over 69kg category - taking their overall tally to one gold, four silver and five bronze medals.

Papua New Guinea also won their first gold medal in Apia.

Lightweight boxer Thadeus Katoa won a split decision in the ring at Tuana'imato against Northern Ireland's Tiernan Bradley.

PNG also claimed bronze in the tennis mixed doubles.

Dr Seine Va'ai says there are also people suffering from the heat.

The Ministry's advice come after reports some athletes competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games needed treatment for diarrhoea and vomiting.

It says people can avoid the transmission of disease by ensuring they have access to clean drinking water, adequate sanitation and good personal hygiene.

Cameroon Valdi Ahmed Njoya scooped the gold, Pakistan’s  Abdur Rehman taking silver and Opeloge settled for bronze.

Opeloge’s best in the Snatch was 96kg while his Clean & Jerk total points were  122kg. He received 218  as his final points.

Don nephew is a the youngest of the Opeloge family with two older brothers and sisters Ele and Mary Opeloge who have all represented and won medals for Samoa in the sport. Don said that he only started lifting weights this year and because his family is so involved in the weightlifting, he gave it a try.

The 15-year-old came into the race having beaten compatriot Gabrielle Fa’amausili in the 100m backstroke and produced another superb performance to take 200m gold with a time of 2min 10.87sec.

She touched the wall over three seconds in front of nearest challenger Nathania van Niekerk of South Africa, while Australian Elyse Woods did enough for bronze.

Tarbei, who claimed the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Youth Championships 800m title in Colombia in July ahead of his team-mate, clocked the fifth-fastest time of the year as he crossed the line in 1min 46.05sec.

In the battle of the top two boy’s 800m runners in the world, Bett led at the turn coming into the home stretch but Tarbei powered to the front late on, with the world youth silver medallist finishing in 1:46.15, while Scotland’s Ben Greenwood clinched bronze.

They have 17 gold and 41 medals in all, ahead of South Africa, England and Malaysia.

On the final day of track and field, Amy Harding-Delooze won the girl's 800m and 1500m events while Grace Robinson added gold in shot put.

The green and golds also had further success in the water, winning gold in the boy's 200m backstroke, girl's 400m freestyle and double gold in the 4x100m relays.

South Africa did the double in the boy's and girl's hurdles while Tlotliso Gift Leotlela added the 200m gold medal to his victory in the 100m.