Junior ABs make hard work of easy win
Sat, 09 Jun 2007 09:32
The Junior All Blacks continued their 100 per cent win record with a 39-13 win over Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday, but it was a hard-earned win, coming back from a half-time deficit. Tongan full-back Vungakoto Lilo scored two first-half tries - the second after Cory Jane had spilled a high ball - to give Tonga a 10-3 lead early in the match, before Ross Filipo's try from a line-out near half-time restored parity - with Brett converting and landing a penalty. But Lilo gave Tonga the lead again with a penalty of his own with the final kick of the first half. Derren Witcombe's try, the hooker latching onto a chip kick early in the second half, gave the Junior ABs the momentum again, and this time the team clicked into gear. Tongan skipper Nili Latu was sin-binned for killing the ball in the 50th minute, and from the penalty, Marty Holah burrowed over. As the Tongan team began to tire, the Junior AB replacements made a significant difference, and the backs ran their opposition ragged, with Tane Tu'ipulotu, Anthony Tuitavake, and Scott Hamilton all going over for tries out wide. The scorers: For Tonga: Tries: Lilo 2 Pen: Lilo For Junior ABs: Tries: Filipo, Witcombe, Holah, Tu'ipulotu, Tuitavake, Hamilton Cons: Brett 3 Pen: Brett Yellow card: Latu (Tonga, 50, professional foul) Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Seti Kiole, 13 Hudson Tonga'uiha, 12 'Isileli Matakaiongo Tupou, 11 'Aisea H Kaufusi, 10 Fangatapu 'Apikotoa, 9 Soane Havea, 8 Hale T Pole, 7 'Otenili Latu (Captain), 6 Teu'imuili Kaufusi, 5 'Isileli Fine, 4 Sione Kalamafoni, 3 Soane Tonga'uiha, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Toma Toke. Replacements: 16 Feki Moala, 17 Sateki Mata'u, 18 Lopeti Liku, 19 Chris Hala'ufia, 20 Tevita Palu, 21 Siua Taumalolo, 22 Sione Fonua. Junior ABs: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Anthony Tuitavake, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Marty Holah (Captain), 6 Kieran Read, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 John Afoa, 2 Derren Witcombe, 1 Clarke Dermody. Replacements: 16 Tone Kopelani, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Jerome Kaino, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Andrew Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Tane Tu'ipulotu. Referee: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Touch judges: James Leckie (Australia), Eva Mafi (Tonga)
