Wellington, Feb 15 NZPA - An understrength New Zealand couldn't contain a rampant Samoa, who claimed the Las Vegas sevens rugby title with a dominant 33-12 win in the final today (NZT).

Struggling with the absence of three key players, the New Zealanders couldn't fight off their Samoan hex this season, having lost all three games against them including last weekend's semifinal in Wellington.

Victorious in the first two tournaments of the year in Dubai and South Africa, New Zealand still hold a handy lead at the halfway point of the International Rugby Board series on 84 points, with Samoa clambering to second on 70 past Fiji on 68. The Fijians were stunned 28-7 by Australia in their quarterfinal.

Once again New Zealand struggled with the physical, swarming nature of Samoa's defence. They trailed 7-14 at halftime but never looked like stopping a team who possessed the tournament's two best players in Mikaele Pesamino and Alafoti Fa'osiliva.

Both scored two tries in the final -- Pesamino's trademark intercept on the stroke of halftime breaking New Zealand hearts and helping lift his tournament tally to 11 tries -- while the other went to Reupena Levasa.

New Zealand crossed in the first half through Kurt Baker and in the second via Tim Mikkelson but they looked an ineffective attacking unit without speedy winger Sherwin Stowers.

Stowers injured his leg during the impressive 21-7 semifinal defeat of Kenya while Ben Souness appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the same game. Neither could play the final, nor could Save Tokula who was suspended after being sinbinned in the 12-5 quarterfinal defeat of South Africa, a match he starred in.

New Zealand were too strong for a Kenyan side who started brightly through a try to Victor Odour but couldn't prevent Zar Lawrence responding before the break and Baker and Lote Raikabula sealing the result after halftime.

Raikabula was a key figure, pulling off some important tackles in another quality team defensive effort while setting up Baker's try with a quick tap and offload.

The Kenyans may have paid the price for an exhausting quarterfinal in which they needed eight minutes of extra time to beat England 26-21.

New Zealand had things slightly easier in the defeat of South Africa courtesy of early tries to Souness and Baker.

Samoa were fortunate to reach the final, needing a late Pesamino try to beat the improving Australia in the other semifinal.