Third-quarter burst not enough as Tonga fall to Manu Samoa in Apia

Samoa: 43 (Stacey Ili, Tuna Tuitama 2, Izalha Moore-Aiono 2, Samuel Slade tries; D’Angelo Leuila 2 con, pen; Rodney Iona 2 con) Tonga: 17 (Lotu Inisi 2 tries; Patrick Pellegrini 2 con, pen) HT: 17-0Samoa is on the board in the Pacific Nations Cup overpowering Tonga 43-17 at Apia Park. The visitors’ woeful record in Samoa continued: Tonga without a win in 20 internationals stretching back to 1980. This after Samoa only won three of their initial 17 matches.

Except for a 15-minute flurry in the second half where Tonga scored 17 unanswered points, ‘Ikale Tahi were never likely winners. Samoa was ahead 29-0 after 46 minutes and finished with a flourish.

The opening dozen minutes won’t make any highlight reels. It was a dreary kick-fest that was finally enlivened when Tonga kicked out on the full near their 22.

Samoa made ground with direct, muscular carries before Stacey Ili retrieved a bounce pass, cut off the right foot, and produced a left-hand fend that would have wobbled Jason Momoa, putting the centre over for his third try in his nine tests.

Three minutes later from another scrum just outside the 22 abrasive halfback Melani Matavo dummied to his right and sailed into a yawing hole. Matavo delivered to Ili who promptly supplied winger Tuna Tuitama with first his Test try. Tuitama debuted against Fiji last Friday. Previously he scored 30 tries in 56 games for Samoa on the SVNS circuit.

Tuitama scored again two minutes after halftime when fellow winger Tomasi Alosio snaffled an intercept and had Tonga reeling. Both flourished with their appetite for work and elusiveness.

Samoa’s forward effort was more disciplined than their inconsistent display against Fiji. Hooker Sama Malolo was rewarded Man of the Match accolades for his combative and precise display which included 13 tackles and 10 carries.

Powerhouse No.8 Lotu Inisi (17 tackles, 9 carries) and a willing bench triggered Tonga’s brief resurgence. Prop Jethro Felemi, loose forward Sosefo Sakalia, and halfback Aisea Halo were especially energetic.

A Sakalia offload from the floor to create Inisi’s second try in the 64th minute raised hopes of a miraculous comeback.

Instead, the fumbles that plagued Tonga earlier returned. With six minutes remaining, and after 10 phases, Izalha Moore-Aiono settled the contest with his second try. With a combined 16 tackles and carries the openside flanker was productive.

Lock Samuel Slade was another trooper and when things got ragged Slade got lucky. A Tongan kick deflected off his chest which the cover defense assumed he had knocked on. Japanese referee Takehito Namekawa signalled play on and Slade galloped 50 metres.

Samoa have won their last six tests against Tonga, with those victories coming by an average of more than 20 points, their best run since winning nine on the bounce between 2001 and 2007.

Next Friday Tonga hosts defending champions Fiji at the Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa. Samoa has a bye and their third win in four tests in 2024.