Rugby League's Mate Ma’a Tonga have pulled off a stunning victory against Fiji Bati with a match-winning try scored by Leilani Latu only three minutes before full-time in a Pacific Test in Campbelltown, NSW, on Saturday. Tonga defeated Fiji 26 – 24. 

The try was setup after a crunching tackle by Manu Vatuvei on Fijian prop Kane Evans, spilling the ball loose within 25 metres of the Fijian try line. Team captain Will Hopoate played a crucial defensive role in the game, securing numerous bomb kicks by the Fijians and preventing try scoring opportunities.

Fiji led at halftime 18 – 14 with three tries to each team.

Tonga had been leading 10 – 0 in the first quarter with an unconverted try scored by Manu Vatuvei in the 6^th minute followed by a converted try by Leilani Latu in the 11^th minute.

Fiji hit back with two converted tries to grab the lead 12 – 10. Daniel Tupou scored Tonga’s third try but Fiji retained its lead with a converted try just before the halftime siren.

In the second-half, Tonga regained the lead in the 60^th minute after a try scored in the corner by Mosese Suli. The lead did not last long with Fijian prop Daniel Saifiti scoring a try five minutes later.

In the dying minutes of the game, Fiji Bati appeared be heading towards a win as Tonga only had 12 players left on the field, having exhausted its interchanges. However, a determined Tongan side overcame the disadvantage, launching a final attack on the Fijian try line that resulted in a try right under the posts by Leilani Latu.