Tonga recovered from defeat against Italy last weekend to defeat USA 22-13 at Parc Eirias in Wales.
Winger Fetu'u Vainakolo grabbed the opening score for the Islanders with a try after ten minutes, before the USA's Luke Hume looked to have levelled the scores only for this try to be ruled out for a forward pass.
USA fly-half Zachary Pangelinan then added a penalty after half an hour to put the Eagles on the board, before scrum-half Robbie Shaw put them ahead with a try right on the stroke of half-time to leave the score at 5-10.
Tonga were down to 14 men at the start of the second half after fly-half Fangutapu 'Apikotoa was penalised for a deliberate knock on, Pangelinan stretching the lead to 5-13.
Full-back Vungakoto Lilo responded with a penalty for Tonga to close the gap before a try from Joe Tu'ineau sent the Islanders ahead with only 15 minutes remaining.
Perpignan centre Sione Piukala then added another try for Tonga to put the match out of sight.
The scorers:
For Tonga:
Tries: Vainakolo, Lilo, Piukala
Cons: Lilo 2
Pens: Lilo
For USA:
Try: Shaw
Con: Pangelinan
Pens: Pangelinan 2
Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu'u Vainakolo , 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Viliami Helu, 10 Fangatapu Apikotoa, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Nili Latu (capt), 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Lua Lokotui, 4 Joseph Tuineau, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Alisona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Ilaisia Ma'asi, 17 Kisi Pulu, 18 Tevita Mailau, 19 Hale T Pole, 20 Joshua Afu, 21 Viliame Iongi, 22 Edmond Paea, 23 Alipate Fatafehi.
USA: 15 Zachary Pangelinan, 14 Cornelius Dirksen, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Luke Hume, 10 Toby L'Estrange, 9 Robbie Shaw, 8 Todd Clever (capt), 7 John Quill, 6 Scott LaValla, 5 Louis Stanfill, 4 Brian Doyle, 3 Eric Fry, 2 Chris Biller, 1 Shawn Pittman.
Replacements: 16 Derek Asbun, 17 Nick Wallace, 18 Zachary Fenoglio, 19 Inaki Basauri, 20 Peter Dahl, 21 Mike Petri, 22 Rolan Suniula, 23 Gearoid McDonald.
Comments
CDB5 says...
The USA tighthead is consistently embarassed at scrum time and useless in the loose. Yet he continues to be selected. I can't help but wonder what dirt he has on national team selectors. While we have developed a solid game in lineout and open play, until we can at least hold our own in the scrums we will be unable to play a full match and consistently be beaten by top 15 sides. Quite a bit has been made of recruits of crossover athletes to the wings. What we really need is work convincing some of the big boys to cross over to play prop. This is admittedly a far longer process, but something has to change because at this rate all the other good work goes for naught until we can set and hold a scrum.
Posted 18:43 20th November 2012
swells07 says...
disappointing play boys but a win nevertheless...let's bring the a game for scotland this weekend...mate ma'a tonga!!
Posted 06:51 20th November 2012
firepower says...
come on IRB bring some game to our home soil. we need to watch a test match here in Teufaiva Stadium
Posted 20:05 19th November 2012
kybone says...
Because they're taking part in a tournement with Samoa Canada and Russia and its being held in Wales.
Posted 09:27 18th November 2012
kiwilad says...
Why are Tonga playinhg the USA in Wales?
Would the fixture not have been better held in either Tonga or Obamaland?
Posted 22:49 17th November 2012