Canada come from behind to beat Tonga

Canada ‘A’ overcame an 15-point deficit in the second half to defeat Tonga ‘A’ 32-31 in the final round of the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo on Sunday. Three tries from Kainoa Lloyd and a dominant scrum sparked the win, the Tongans again undone by poor discipline late in the game

The opening minutes of the game were all Canada’s. Tonga were pulverised at the scrum, conceding several penalties, and it was through the maul that the first try came just three minutes in. Ray Barkwill was the man in possession to take credit. Gordon McRorie couldn’t make the conversion but added a penalty after another scrum victory.

Tonga finally woke up halfway through the first stanza. Their own lineout drive pulled in the defense and with three men in the clear Manase Folau had the simplest of run-ins. Saia Fililava was on target with the extras and sent over his own penalty goal to inch his team ahead.

Canada would re-take the lead through Lloyd, the winger reaching out through the tackle after Theo Sauder managed to offload from the deck. The lead would last no time, however, as a brilliant chip and regather from Fililava sparked a try for Irwin Finau.

A second try to Finau came just before the break, and Tonga’s advantage was extended immediately after the restart. Fililava was the hero again, striking with a marvelous 50 meter drop goal and soon adding a more conventional penalty kick off the tee after Hubert Buydens had been shown yellow for an off-the-ball clearout.

The comeback began with Lloyd showing pace and power on a terrific 45 meter solo effort. McRorie converted, and then it was the flyhalf who sparked the hat-trick. Lloyd was on hand to finish off McRorie’s line break and close the gap to just 6 points.

It was Tonga’s discipline, or lack thereof, that would end the debate. Tevita Hafoka was binned for a dangerous no-arms shot to give field position to Canada. Vili Langi then collapsed the driving maul and the referee marched under the posts to award the penalty try and send Langi to the bin. Reduced to just 13 players there would be no coming back for Tonga.

Several of Canada’s players will now prepare for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers in Marseille that begin on November 11. Few if any of this Tongan side will be expected to travel with the senior Ikale Tahi on their European tour that also begins in France against the French Barbarians.

 

SCORING

TONGA 31
Tries – M. Folau (19’), I. Finau 2 (34’, 39’)
Cons – S. Fililava 2/3 (20’, 35’)
Pens – S. Fililava 3/5 (29’, 51’, 61’)
Drop goals – S. Fililava 1/1 (41’)
Yellow cards – T. Hafoka (68’), V. Langi (69’)

CANADA 32
Tries – R. Barkwill (3’), K. Lloyd 3 (32’, 57’, 64’), Penalty try (69’)
Cons – G. McRorie 1/4 (58’)
Pens – G. McRorie 1/1 (13’)
Yellow cards – H. Buydens (44’)

 

TEAMS

TONGA ‘A’
1 Solomone Kioa (capt.), 2 Maliu Ma’asi, 3 Anthony Aholelei, 4 Irwin Finau, 5 Asaeli Lehauli, 6 Bruce Ikamanu, 7 Taniela Atiola, 8 Haloti Tupou, 9 Sione Ta’ai, 10 James Faiva, 11 Sione Ika, 12 Paki Afu, 13 Manase Folau, 14 Alefosio Vahe, 15 Saia Fililava

Replacements: 16 Paea Fono’ifua, 17 Sosaia Masima, 18 Kaho Tupou, 19 Vili Langi, 20 Tupou Ahome’e, 21 Tevita Hafoka, 22 To’osavili Havea, 23 Siosefa Finau

CANADA ‘A’
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Paul Ciulini, 5 Mike Sheppard, 6 Kyle Baillie, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Phil Mack (capt.), 10 Gordon McRorie, 11 Jordan Wilson-Ross, 12 Nick Blevins, 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Theo Sauder

Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Noah Barker, 18 Ryan Kotlewski, 19 Travis Larsen, 20 Dustin Dobravsky, 21 Brock Webster, 22 Guiseppe du Toit, 23 Brock Staller

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)