England went into the tie with high hopes after a 60-6 win over the same opposition in the tournament’s opening game, but Samoa were the better team in a pulsating clash.
The hosts wiped out an eight-point deficit in the final quarter to send the game into sudden-death, only for Stephen Crichton’s drop goal to book Samoa’s passage into the final to face holders Australia at Old Trafford next Saturday.
There were some good individual performances, but as a team England fell sort when it really mattered. Here’s how the players rated.
![Never quite got it right, kicks over the top didn't work and the forward pass in extra-time was a fatal error 5.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjcxMWEzMThlLWIxMzMtNGE0Ny1iYmIxLWQ3OTM2M2U5OGMyZjo1MmIzYTAwOS05MDFmLTQ2YzktOGFlMi0yYmUxOTA2NDNkZTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
1. Sam Tomkins (squad number one)
Never quite got it right, kicks over the top didn't work and the forward pass in extra-time was a fatal error 5.Photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
![Had a terrific tournament, but found it tough on the big occasion and the more experienced Ryan Hall might have been a better option 4.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjlhYThiMzM2LTRhMWItNDYxNy1iM2M1LTdiNTc3MDMxNjc2YTozYmVmNTgwYy03ZWRhLTQ0NmYtOGMyYi0zMTFjMzVmN2ExNGM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
2. Dom Young (No 14)
Had a terrific tournament, but found it tough on the big occasion and the more experienced Ryan Hall might have been a better option 4.Photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
![Had a poor game, bombed a chance and caught out defensively a couple of times 4.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAzNmI0ZjYzLTRkZTgtNGE2NS1hMGYzLTQ5MjE4N2YyY2YwZjpkMzg2ZWE1OC0xMjM2LTQzY2MtYjczYS00YzI1YjAzOTE3OGQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
3. Kallum Watkins (No 3)
Had a poor game, bombed a chance and caught out defensively a couple of times 4.Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
![Had a big game, scored two tries, couldn't have done much more 8.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjlhZTkzY2VmLTFkNGYtNDRjMS04ODA4LTA1YjRhZGU4MjY0MzplZThhNTFlYy0yNzAzLTQ5NjctOTlmNS05N2ZhY2M0ZDVlYzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
4. Herbie Farnworth (No 4)
Had a big game, scored two tries, couldn't have done much more 8.Photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
![Hard to fault, one missed chance, but kept his nerve with his goal kicking 7.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIzNWJkNDVjLTFlZjctNDEwNi1hN2M2LTMzZTczNTA1ZjhlNjphYjEyYWQ1ZS1lNTQwLTQ3ZDgtODhjZS1mMzkyMWRjNjBjOWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Tommy Makinson (No 2)
Hard to fault, one missed chance, but kept his nerve with his goal kicking 7.Photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
![Struggled, caught out defensively for Samoa's second try and made a big error in extra-time 4.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg1ZjdmMjM3LWVmMDMtNDM3Yi05ZTY1LTc2NjI1ZTkwZWJkOTo4M2MxYzA0OC1iNTMyLTQ0YzgtYTZkNy02MGRhMGEwZWM2ZGE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Jack Welsby (No 6)
Struggled, caught out defensively for Samoa's second try and made a big error in extra-time 4.Photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com