Tonga Women's Sevens end Australian tour with a top-four finish at Paradise Sevens [1]
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - 10:52. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 09:54.
The Tonga Women's Sevens team completed their tour of Australia on a high note after reaching the Cup semi-final at the Hyperion Paradise Sevens on the Gold Coast.
After completing training days in Noosa and Brisbane, following their Cup final appearance at the Noosa Sevens a week earlier, the Women's team were looking to repeat the effort at the much more competitive Hyperion Paradise Sevens.
A tough ask, as the Tongan team faced the prospect of playing without Prop forward Fakaola Malungahu who injured a shoulder, and halfback 'Eseta Vi who was still nursing a serious knee strain from the Noosa tournament. Called into the side to cover were Australian Tongan players Ana Havea of Brisbane Norths, who joined the team's training day in Brisbane, and Mele Pani of Sunnybank. Unfortunately, only Havea would join the team as Pani was unable to secure release from Sunnybank. This left Tonga to chance its arm in the player pool, and as luck would have it, Aussie Pearls reserve wing Alicia Quirk was drafted into the side for the tournament.
Getting out of their pool would be the first challenge for Tonga. With Tonga facing Sunnybank, Murri Magic and the reigning world champion Aussie Pearls on day one. Sunnybank and Murri Magic ran out with greatly changed sides from those that faced off against Tonga in Noosa a week earlier, with both teams prepared for Tonga's physicality. However, Tonga managed to scrape through with a 14-12 win over Murri Magic and a 21-14 win over Sunnybank. Tonga then produced an inspired performance against the Aussie Pearls to go down 32-0 the lowest score the Pearls would produce against any team at the tournament.
With two wins, Tonga finished second in Pool A and earned a place in the Cup Quarterfinal against the highly fancied Kusa (NZ) that boasted three former New Zealand internationals. Coach Mark Hojelson named a new line-up, starting with three props and a physical and direct game plan. Tonga's extra size troubled the Kiwis early, with Pesalini Lave going the length of the field to finish a move which started from a turn-over on Tonga's five-metre line. Losaline Potaufa converted the try, which would prove the difference in a match that ended with Tonga holding on for an upset win 7- 5.
This set-up an encounter with Eastsyde club from Brisbane in the Cup Semi-Final, that would prove to be a bridge-too-far for the squad with Eastsyde hitting a two try lead at half-time. Although the Tongan team tried to stage a second half-comeback, the Eastsyde defence refused to budge as Eastsyde closed out the game 24-0.
The Tonga Womens sevens team will return to Tonga on Tuesday.