'Fo'i Malie', defeated but it was still a good game, most Tongans will agree, after watching the Junior All Blacks beat the 'Ikale Tahi 39-13 at Teufaiva Stadium this afternoon.

The 'Ikale Tahi really gave it to the Junior All Blacks (JAB) in the first half, with the 'Ikale Tahi leading 13-10 at half time. The Tongans scored two tries to only one by the New Zealanders. All of Tonga's 13 points was scored by the full-back Vungakoto Lilo, he scored two tries and converted a penalty for Tonga.

The 'Ikale Tahi put the first score on the board with a neat move by the Full-back, Vungakoto Lilo who came in as an extra man in the backline to cross the line for a try. Fangatapu missed the conversion and the 'Ikale Tahi led 5-0.

The JAB responded later with a penalty conversion to put their first points on the board, and the score was 5-3. The JAB scored next with a try by Ross Filipo, and it was converted by their No. 10, to take the lead 10-5.

The 'IT scored next with a try by Vungakoto Lilo but, again, Fangatapu missed the conversion, and the score was 10 all. A few minutes before half time, the 'IT was awarded a penalty and Vungakoto Lilo slotted that one to make the score 13-10 at half time.

JAB took control

Whatever the coach told the JAB players at half-time, they came out firing, and straight away, the hooker scored, and the conversion was successful, then the score went up to 13-17. The JAB scored five tries in the second with none by the 'Ikale Tahi. Ross Filipo scored his second try of the game, the No. 10 failed with the conversion and the score went up to 22-13.

Tane Tu'ipulotu scored the next try and it was converted, and the score went up to 29-13. Anthony Tu'itavake scored the next try, but the No. 10 missed the conversion, and the score went up to 34-13. Scot Hamilton scored the fifth and the final try for the JAB in the second half to make the score 39-13 at full-time.

The JAB took full control of the second half. But what happened to them in the first half?

Colin Cooper one of the JAB coaches said, "I just think that Tonga played well, they took it to us. We had about four opportunities of missed tries, we missed those tries, but it gave Tonga some good confidence and they came back at us."

The 'Ikale Tahi's captain, 'Otenili Latu, who was yellow-carded in the second half said, "I am happy, even though we lost, but we gave it all our best effort. There are two more weeks to go, and we are happy to build on our achievement today. We seem to be improving as the weeks go by, and I would like to thank the people who come to support us today."