Fijians taken out by Tonga in Gosford

Unbeaten Junior ABs await unbeaten Tongans

Tonga remain in contention for the IRB Pacific Five Nations spoils after recording a tense 24-23 victory over Fiji in Australia on Saturday.

Having handing Japan a emphatic 57-16 defeat in Fukuoka last weekend Tonga come from behind to beat the fancied Fijians in a thrilling match in Gosford.

Trailing 17-23 with just five minutes to go, the game appeared to have slipped away from Tonga.

However, in cold and wet conditions the home side rallied one last time before replacement hooker Aleki Lutui crashed over out wide for a try that brought Tonga back to within one point, much to the approval of the 3,582 crowd.  Pierre Hola's conversion sealed victory for the Tongans.

Neither side allowed the damp conditions to stifle their attacking play with both sets of backs creating opportunities.  However, it was the Tongans, with their powerful forward pack and intelligent kicking game, who settled first with Hola slotting over a drop-goal just three minutes into the match.

Seremia Bai levelled the scores with a penalty before Fiji forged into the lead after a typically flamboyant back move, started deep inside their own half, was rounded off by Kameli Ratuvou underneath the posts.  Bai converted and then added a penalty shortly afterwards to open up a 13-3 lead for the visitors.

Tonga, enjoying the better of the forward exchanges, hit back with two minutes to go until the interval with centre Suka Hufanga capitalising on turn over ball inside the Fijian half.  Hola's conversion reduced the deficit to just three points at half time.

Tonga regained the lead early in the second half after Hola's accurate cross-field kick was gathered in the in-goal area by Saracens wing Tevita Vaikona for a well-finished score.  Hola's conversion gave the home side a deserved 17-13 lead.

Both coaches made a plethora of substitutions as the game entered the final quarter, and it was Fiji, who were quick to adjust to the changes, who struck with a well-executed try by flying Sevens star Mosese Leveitasu.

Bai's conversion, followed by a penalty in the 69th minute seemed to have wrapped up the victory for the visitors, before Latui's try and Hola's conversion secured Tonga's first victory over Fiji since 2003.

The result sets up a mouth-watering Round Three clash against the only other undefeated team in the competition, the Junior All Blacks in New Plymouth on Saturday in the first of a double-header at the Yarrows Stadium as Japan take on the Samoa.

The scorers:

For Tonga:
Tries:  Hufanga, Vaikona, Latui
Cons:  Hola 3
Drop:  Hola

For Fiji:
Tries:  Ratuvou, Leveitasu
Con:  Bai 2
Pen:  Bai 3