Late surge lifts Tonga over USA

Tonga ‘A’ scored 17 points in the final minutes of the match to overcome an eight-point deficit and secure a 39-30 win over the USA Select XV in Montevideo on Saturday. It’s an impressive start to the Americas Pacific Challenge for the inexperienced Tongans.

Discipline was a concern for Tonga with a high shot from George Tu’ineau earning the prop a 10 minute rest. Dylan Audsley took three points with the opportunity but it was Tonga who got the first try. Sione Ika spotted a gap in the line and the halfback showed a turn of pace to break through under the sticks.

Ika’s footwork was impressive but his passing let him down soon after. A poor decision left the ball free for Brendan Daly to intercept and sprint 50 meters for a try. Audsley converted and added his second penalty to give the USA a 17-13 lead.

It wouldn’t hold to the break. Irwin Finau muscled over from close range with Saia Fililava converting and adding his own penalty goal. The latter came after Psalm Wooching was shown yellow for a professional foul at the breakdown.

Despite the numeric disadvantage it was the USA who scored first in the second half. Ryan Matyas came on off the left wing to create the overlap and Tim Maupin finished off the simple two-on-one. Audsley’s kick went over to restore the lead.

After a brief stalemate the Tongans flipped the lead again. It was Ika again fooling the defense with a dummy and a step through the gap. More lead changes were in store however as Audsley landed his third penalty and then Vili Toluta’u finished a long-range team try that started with breaks by Matyas and a rampaging Hanco Germishuys.

That would end the USA’s scoring, and instead the final run was all Tonga. Sione Lave ran a brilliant line to break through and in under the posts. Petelesio Sili nearly made it all the way down the right flank and just as he was being driven into touch he managed to offload to Tevita Hafoka for the winning try.

A Fililava penalty on full-time stole a potential bonus point from the USA. The Tongans will play Samoa on Wednesday with the USA looking for improvement against hosts Uruguay.

 

SCORING

TONGA 39
Tries – S. Ika 2 (21’, 54’), I. Finau (37’), S. Lave (72’), T. Hafoka (74’)
Cons – S. Fililava 4/5 (22’, 38’, 73’, 75’)
Pens – S. Fililava 2/3 (40’, 80’)
Yellow cards – G. Tu’ineau (18’), T. Cocker (66’)

USA 30
Tries – B. Daly (26’), T. Maupin (44’), V. Toluta’u (65’)
Cons – D. Audsley 3/3 (27’, 45’, 66’)
Pens – D. Audsley 3/4 (19’, 32’, 62’)
Yellow cards – P. Wooching (40’)

 

TEAMS

TONGA ‘A’
1 George Tu’ineau, 2 Solomone Kioa (capt.), 3 Anthony Aholelei, 4 Irwin Finau, 5 Asaeli Lehauli, 6 Tevita Hafoka, 7 Haloti Tupou, 8 Takao Cocker, 9 Sione Ika, 10 Saia Fililava, 11 Manase Folau, 12 Paki Afu, 13 James Faiva, 14 Petelesio Sili, 15 Alefosio Vahe

Replacements: 16 Maliu Ma’asi, 17 Paea Fono’ifua, 18 Sosaia Masima, 19 Vili Langi, 20 Bruce Ikamanu, 21 Sione Ta’ai, 22 Sione Lave, 23 Sefa Finau

USA SELECT XV
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 John Hayden, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Taylor Krumrei, 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Brendan Daly, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Conor Kearns (capt.), 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Anthony Salaber, 13 Dylan Audsley, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 Mitch Wilson

Replacements: 16 Pat O’Toole, 17 Kelepi Fifita, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Matt Jensen, 20 Vili Toluta’u, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 JP Eloff, 23 Ryan Matyas

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Pali Deluca (ARU)
Assistants: Santiago Romero (URU) & Gonzalo Ventoso (URU)