Tonga 26 Japan 25

Tonga overhauled a six-point deficit in the second half to beat defending champions Japan 26-25 in the Pacific Rim rugby championship on Saturday.

"We expected a very fast game from the Japanese team," said Tonga's captain Elisi Vunipola, after his team's first win in the six-team round robin competition, following defeats in their first two games.

"What we have improved from the last two games is the team's discipline.  "I think our discipline has improved a little bit, although we gave away a few penalties in the second half.  We can improve for the next game," he said.

Flanker Kisione Ahotaeiloa put Tonga 5-0 ahead with a long solo run after Epafasi Taufoou intercepted a poor Japanese pass.  Taunaholo Taufahema converted to make it 7-0.

Scrum half Sioeli Nau scored a converted try in the 22nd minute, with right winger Aisea Kaufusi adding another three minutes later.

The Japanese side, who had also lost their first two games, to Fiji and the United States, put their first points on the board via the boot of Toru Kurihara, kicking two penalties in the 14th minute and in injury time at the end of the first half.

The Japanese got off to a flying start in the second half as tries by scrum half Mamoru Ito in the 44th minute, followed in quick succession by Kurihara in the 54th and left winger Terunori Masuho in the 61st minute had the Tongans floundering.

However, leading 25-19 in the 67th minute, Kurihara's 10-minute penalty for offside turned the game, as the Japanese temporarily lost their shape.

Tonga seized the opportunity as Benhur Kivalu's try to make it 24-25 was gleefully converted by Taufahema, securing Tonga's first victory by just one point.

"This win is very important to our chances for the championship," said Tongan coach Tuivaita Ueleni.

Meanwhile, Japan's head coach Seiji Hirao said:  "It was a very close game, although we couldn't win in the end.  We have two more games, I hope we will be able to win (them)."

Japanese team captain Masuho said:  "I feel our young players are improving game by game.  We are just struggling to win a game.  We lost our concentration when Kurihara was penalized, because of a lack of communication."

Japan will take on Samoa next Saturday in an away game, while Tonga will face Samoa at home on June 24.

The Teams:

Tonga:  1 Ta'u Fainga'anuku, 2 Latiume Maka, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 4 Isi Fatani, 5 Ben Hur Kivalu, 6 Feleti Fakaongo, 7 Kati Tu'ipulotu, 8 Kisione Ahota'e'iloa, 9 Sioeli Nau, 10 'Elisi Vunipola (c), 11 'Aisea Havili, 12 David Tiueti, 13 'Epafasi Ta'ufo'ou, 14 Solomone Matangi, 15 Tauna'holo Taufahema
Reserves:  Christopher Hala'ufi, Viliami Ma'asi, Fakataha Molitika, 'Epeli Taione

Japan:  1 Toshikazu Nakamichi, 2 Shin Hasegawa, 3 Kohei Oguchi, 4 Naoya Okubo, 5 Hiroyuki Tanuma, 6 Masahiro Kurokawa, 7 Hiroshi Sugawara, 8 Kazuya Koizumi, 9 Mamoru Ito, 10 Syotaro Oonishi, 11 Terunori Masuho (c), 12 Hideki Nanba, 13 Akira Yoshida, 14 Michinori Oda, 15 Toru Kurihara
Reserves:  Yasuhiko Iwama, Takuo Kawasaki, Takeshi Nozawa, Yuji Sonoda

Referee:  Kuklinski b.

Points Scorers:

Tonga
Tries:  Ahota'e'iloa K. 1, Havili A. 1, Kivalu D.B.H. 1, Nau S. 1
Conv:  Taufahema T. 3

Japan
Tries:  Ito M. 1, Kurihara T. 1, Masuho T. 1
Conv:  Kurihara T. 2
Pen K.:  Kurihara T. 2