Tonga blitz Hong Kong in Brazil

Tonga made it two wins from two at the World Rugby u20 Trophy as they blitzed Hong Kong by a score of 64-12 on Saturday. The size and strength of the Tongan forwards proved too much for their opponents with a 36-12 score built by half-time and ten tries scored in all before the final whistle.

Hong Kong started well, pushing Tonga back to their line and earning a penalty advantage. Vice-captain Sam Tsoi spotted a gap behind the ruck and jumped over top from close range.

Back-to-back scores from Tongan fullback Hateni Tafolo followed shortly. The first was a long-range finish after running a smart line to take an offload from Malakai Uasi. Another offload set up the second, this time from Apitoni Toia with Tafolo stepping in side the last defenders.

The second Hong Kong try came from Sam Down on a nifty offload from Thaddeus Summers. Paul Altier missed the wide-angle conversion leaving the scores level. Unfortunately for the Junior Dragons, that would be their last mark on the scoreboard.

A rolling maul ended with Tupou Afungia over the line, then it was Solomone Fono’s low drive from close range. The maul again proved unstoppable with Falamani Mafi getting the credits for the touchdown followed by Toia’s one-meter dive just before the intermission.

Lisiate Folau scored a sensational individual try 10 minutes into the second half. Tafolo’s high ball was regathered on halfway by Folau, and the winger used pace and guile to outwit the cover defense with steps off both feet to finish under the posts.

Uasi went through the line to put his midfield partner Rodney Tongotea in for a score next. Continuity was disrupted as replacements streamed into the match, and it would be 20 minutes until another score.

It was Tongotea again, following his own pass to Hesitoni Fa and taking the return offload for the simplest of finishes. Flanker Roy Lolesio strode through on the outside to bring the game to a close as Filipe Samate knocked over his 7th conversion.

A winner-take-all match against undefeated Portugal on Wednesday is next for Tonga, with a spot in the final on offer. Hong Kong’s final pool opponent will be Canada.

 

SCORING

TONGA 64
Tries – H. Tafolo 2 (12’, 17’), T. Afungia (28’), S. Fono (32’), F. Mafi (36’), A. Toia (39’), L. Folau (50’), R. Tongotea 2 (56′, 75’), R. Lolesio (80’)
Cons – F. Samate 7/10 (18’, 33’, 37’, 51’, 57′, 76’, 80’)

HONG KONG 12
Tries – S. Tsoi (8’), S. Down (20’)
Cons – P. Altier 1/2 (9’)

 

TEAMS

TONGA u20
1 Apitoni Toia, 2 Falamani Mafi, 3 Tevita Sole, 4 Solomone Fono, 5 Aisea Maksini, 6 Tupou Afungia, 7 Roy Lolesio, 8 Lopini Kioa, 9 Alan Tukuafu, 10 Filipe Samate, 11 Taniela Filimone, 12 Malakai Uasi (capt.), 13 Rodney Tongotea, 14 Lisiate Folau, 15 Hateni Tafolo

Replacements: 16 Mesake Toumohuni, 17 Mafi Fifita, 18 Lisivani Tuifua, 19 Otunuku Pauta, 20 Lote Fakatou, 21 Siaosi Nai, 22 Tu’atao Savou, 23 Hesitoni Fa, 24 Pita Halaifonua, 25 Mordecai Pulu

HONG KONG u20
1 Nick McGrory, 2 Callum Tam, 3 Mikkel Christensen, 4 James Rivers, 5 Jonathan Howells, 6 Sam Tsoi, 7 Joseph Knight, 8 Hugo Darke-Christopher, 9 Henry Poon, 10 Paul Altier (capt.), 11 Sam Down, 12 William Panday, 13 Kyle Kitney, 14 Oliver Duffy, 15 Thaddeus Summers

Replacements: 16 Cheuk-Wai Ng, 17 Man-Chun Tang, 18 Rory Cinnamond, 19 Wai-Shing Sung, 20 Ollie Overman, 21 Tomek Tsang, 22 Pat Laidler, 23 Lucas Lacamp, 24 Tiarnan Neville, 25 Julian Onderwater, 26 Kyle McCallum

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Nehuén Jauri Rivero (UAR)
Assistants: Cauã Ricardo (CBRu) & Matías Esteban (URU)