Photos by Pesi Fonua

Tonga’s most lucrative rugby tournament, the Lavengamalie Rugby Cup Tournament offering $168,900 cash prizes ended on Saturday, 9 January, at Teufaiva Stadium when the Marist Rangers walked away with the top prize of $35,000 pa’anga. In second place was Spartans with $20,000.

The tournament attracted 20 teams, all from Tongatapu. There were Cup and Plate Divisions, with Classes I and II teams competing in each division.

 On 8 January the Class II teams competed for the top four places in their divisions.

The highlight was on Saturday 9 January when the top eight Class 1 teams battled it out for the top four teams in the Cup, and top four teams in the Plate Divisions.

Cup Final

The main event for the day was the Cup Final between the Spartans of Ha’ateiho and the Marist Rangers. Neither of these teams have ever won a Lavengamalie Rugby Cup tournament since it started in 2000, but with the highest purse that have ever been on offer, $35,000, excitement was in the air.

Spartans put the first points on the scoreboard three minutes from kick-off and they led 3-0. Marist miss a penalty conversion in the sixth minute but they put their first points on the board with a converted pushover to lead 7-3.

In the 12^th minute of the first half Marist was over the line again for an unconverted try to lead 12-3. Spartans were successful with two penalty conversions to add on six more points but Marist was on the roll and scored an unconverted try and a penalty try, and at half time they led 24-9.

The second half began with a disastrous blow for Spartans, when Marist scored a try seconds from kick-off to lead 29-9 and ten minutes later scored a pushover try taking the score to 34-9.

Spartans fought back to score two unconverted tries, but the Marist with a number of experienced players on their side, such as Fangatapu ‘Apikotoa, continued to score tries.

Frustration also got into to the Spartans and it did not help when in the 36 minute of the second half, their No. 18 was yellow-carded.

At full-time the Marist Rangers were on a high of 53-19.

The first game played earlier on Saturday was between the Havelu Bulldogs and Hihifo for the 3rd and 4th places in the Plate Division.  

Hihifo scored all the points in the first half  with a penalty conversion and a converted try to lead 10-0 at the break.

The Havelu Bulldogs came out firing in the second half and scored three converted tries in a row to lead 21-10.

Hihifo though kept their cool and managed a converted penalty to narrow the gap 16-21, and then threw the final punch in the dying seconds, a converted try to win the game 23-21.

So Hihifo claimed the third place and the Havelu Bulldog the fourth place in the Plate Division.

Prizes:

Cup Trophy

Class 1
No. 1 $35,000 Marist Rangers
No. 2 $20,000 Spartans
No. 3 $1500 Kolisi ko Tupou
No. 4 $1200 Toa ko Ma’afu

Class 2
No. 1 $12,000 Nukunuku
No. 2 $9000 Malapo
No. 3 $6000 Popua
No. 4 $5000 Fatumu

Plate Trophy

Class 1
No. 1 $10,000 Lavengamalie
No. 2 $8000 Sila Peluua
No. 3 $7000 Hihifo
No. 4 $4000 Havelu

Class 2
No. 1 $4000 Kau Sela – Hu’atolitoli.
No. 2 $3000 Marist
No. 3 $2000 Ha’asini
No. 4 $1000 Toloa.

Other Prizes:

Best Marching teams:
Class 1 –1 Tupou college $500 ; 2 Fuekafa $300, 3 Lavengamalie $200.
Class 2 – 1 Tupou college $500; 2 Hofoa $300; 3 Kau Sela $200.

Best Sipi Tau:
Class 1– 1 Tupou College $500; 2 Hihifo $300; 3 Sila Peluua $200.
Class 2 - 1 Fofoa $500; 2 Fanga $300; 3 Lavengatonga $200.

Best Goal kickers:
Class 1 $300 – Fangatapu ‘Apikotoa,
Class 2 $200 – Namu Palanite No. 10 Popua.

Most Tries:
Class 1 - $300 - Soape Polutele No. 11 Lavengamalie
Class 2 - $300 - Palu Fihaki, Nukunuku.

Best Forward players:
Class 1 - $200 Sione Lafo No. 7 Spartans
Class 2 - $200 Katoni Laulau pea ‘Alu, Malapo.

Best Backs Players
Class 1 - $200 Fangatapu ‘Apikotoa.
Class 2 - $200 Siaosi ‘Iongi, Nukunuku.

Best Captain

Class 1 - $300 – Fangatapu ‘Apikotoa
Class 2 - $300 – Kingi Tu’ivailala No. 6 Malapo.

Man of the match Final Game
Class 1 - $200 Simi Taka, Marist
Class 2 - $200 Palu Fihaki, Nukunuku

Man of the Tournament
Class 1 - $300 Sione Lafo, Spartans
Class 2 - $200 Kingi Tu’ivailala ‘o Malapo.

Best coach
Class 1 $500 Marist’s coach
Class 2 $300 Penihur Kivalu, Nukunuku.

Best in memorising and the reading of Verses from the bible:
No. 1 $10,000 – Sopu and Kolomotu’a.
No. 2 $8000 – Kolisi Ko Tupou
No. 3 $6000 – lavengamalie Class 2.
No. 4 $4000 – Lavengamalie Class 1.
No. 5 Draw $2000 each –Hofoa and Malapo
No. 6 - $1000 Hihifo.
No. 7 - $700 Kau Sela.
No. 8 – three tie - $600 each – Fuekafa, Fanga, Kolisi Tupou.
No. 9 – draw - $500 each - Marist Class 2 and Havelu.