Tonga has gone down 20-9 to the New Zealand Maori in a match dictated by heavy tackles and penalty kicks in the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup at Albany Stadium.
The opening stanza of the game was nothing short of brutal as each team threw all the weight they possessed at each other with neither team willing to take a backwards step.
First five-eighths Callum Bruce was unable to add six easy points for the Maori in the opening 15 minutes as he sprayed both penalty kicks left.
It wasn't until the 25th minute of play that Bruce was able to notch the first points of the 2008 Cup as he did justice to the term 'third time lucky' and nailed home a three point penalty.
The lead wasn't to last however as Togan first five-eighths Fangatapu Apikotoa drew the scores at three apiece after slotting his relatively straight-forward penalty kick.
More push-and-shove play continued for the remainder of the half and a satisfied Tongan team left the field after the half-time buzzer knowing they had really taken it to an average looking Maori side.
It took all of ten minutes for the Maori to score the first try of their campaign when second five-eighths Tamati Ellison dotted down with Bruce adding the extra two.
Tongan fullback Sione Mone Tu'ipolotu was yellow-cared in the process of the try for some blatant illegal play right under the referee's nose.
Play went straight back down the other end of the field after the restart though and another easy penalty kick was steered between the uprights by Apikotoa to take the score to 10-6.
Bruce then took the opportunity to again stretch the lead after he kicked another three-pointer in the 54th minute.
Some ridiculous illegal play in a ruck right inside the Maori 22 then allowed Apikotoa to add another three valuable points through a penalty and take the score to 13-9.
Another yellow card was handed to Tongan second five-eighths Epeli Taione after he was caught tackling Thomas Waldrom around the head.
The try of the match was then scored in the 72nd minute by halfback Piri Weepu after he received an offload from wing Hosea Gear who had busted tackles all the way down the touchline.
Bruce had no problems adding the extra two and effectively placed the match out of Tonga's grasp with the scoreline now at 20-9.
NZ Maori 20 (Tamati Ellison, Piri Weepu tries, Callum Bruce 2 con, 2 pen) Tonga 9 (Apikotoa 3 pen)
The opening stanza of the game was nothing short of brutal as each team threw all the weight they possessed at each other with neither team willing to take a backwards step.
First five-eighths Callum Bruce was unable to add six easy points for the Maori in the opening 15 minutes as he sprayed both penalty kicks left.
It wasn't until the 25th minute of play that Bruce was able to notch the first points of the 2008 Cup as he did justice to the term 'third time lucky' and nailed home a three point penalty.
The lead wasn't to last however as Togan first five-eighths Fangatapu Apikotoa drew the scores at three apiece after slotting his relatively straight-forward penalty kick.
More push-and-shove play continued for the remainder of the half and a satisfied Tongan team left the field after the half-time buzzer knowing they had really taken it to an average looking Maori side.
It took all of ten minutes for the Maori to score the first try of their campaign when second five-eighths Tamati Ellison dotted down with Bruce adding the extra two.
Tongan fullback Sione Mone Tu'ipolotu was yellow-cared in the process of the try for some blatant illegal play right under the referee's nose.
Play went straight back down the other end of the field after the restart though and another easy penalty kick was steered between the uprights by Apikotoa to take the score to 10-6.
Bruce then took the opportunity to again stretch the lead after he kicked another three-pointer in the 54th minute.
Some ridiculous illegal play in a ruck right inside the Maori 22 then allowed Apikotoa to add another three valuable points through a penalty and take the score to 13-9.
Another yellow card was handed to Tongan second five-eighths Epeli Taione after he was caught tackling Thomas Waldrom around the head.
The try of the match was then scored in the 72nd minute by halfback Piri Weepu after he received an offload from wing Hosea Gear who had busted tackles all the way down the touchline.
Bruce had no problems adding the extra two and effectively placed the match out of Tonga's grasp with the scoreline now at 20-9.
NZ Maori 20 (Tamati Ellison, Piri Weepu tries, Callum Bruce 2 con, 2 pen) Tonga 9 (Apikotoa 3 pen)
