Tonga-A snatches win [1]
Thursday, March 3, 2011 - 22:17. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
The Tonga A Rugby Union team rounded off its three-match tour of Australia with a victory over the Queensland Reds Academy, 23-22 at Ballymore on Monday evening, February 28.
Tonga A lost its first game against a Junior Waratahs side at Foreshaw Rugby Park on February 19.
Tonga A drew with the Brumby Runners 22-22 at the Vikings Park on Wednesday, February 23, before it finally managed to secure a victory 23-22 against the Reds Academy.
Following the Tonga A victory and a thrilling first half performance, after leading at the break 15-5, the Tonga national coach 'Isitolo Maka said that he was very happy with the win, but "We dropped a lot of ball in the second half to make things difficult for us but a one-point win against a team like this is as good as a 40 point win.
"New Zealand will be a tough tour, but we're looking forward to it. This is such an important tournament in a World Cup year."
Fiji Warriors lead
At the end of the first phase of the re-vamped IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2011 the Fiji Warriors is leading with nine points, followed by the Samoa A with eight points then the Tonga A with six points.
Phase two of the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup will kick off in New Zealand on Friday evening when the Fiji Warriors meet a Crusaders Development XV. Tonga A will meet a Chiefs Development XV at Growers Stadium, Pukekohe. The Samoa A will play against a Hurricanes Development XV on the following day, Saturday at Porirua Park.
On the following Wednesday March 9 the Fiji Warriors will play the Chiefs Development XV at Tauranga Domain; Samoa A will play the Crusaders Development XV at Lincoln University and Tonga A will play the Hurricanes Development XV at the Hutt Recreation Ground.
The final games for the New Zealand leg of the tournament will be on March 14, when the Fiji Warriors will meet the Hurricanes Development XV at Porirua Park. Tonga A will meet the Crusaders Development XV at Lincoln University and Saoa A will meet the Chiefs Development XV at Growers Stadium, PUkekohe.
The third and the final phase of the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup series will be played in Fiji during the last week of March, when the Fiji Warriors will play Tonga A on Saturday March 19 at Churchill Park, Lautoka. Samoa A will play the Fiji Warriors on Tuesday March 22 again at Churchill Park; then on Saturday March 26 Tonga A will play Samoa a at Lawaqa Park.