Mate Ma’a Tonga perform their Sipi Tau at Workington. Photos by Neil Ashurst.

Nuku’alofa was quiet this morning, after the Mate Ma’a Tonga suffered a shock defeat to Scotland in its first game of the Rugby League World Cup.

The highly favoured Mate Ma‘a Tonga were outwitted by Scotland’s “Bravehearts” in a nail-biting encounter 26 – 24. The match was aired live on Tongan national television and radio this morning as the game was played in the English city of Workington.

The Bravehearts lived up to their name, managing four tries against a NRL star-studed team with names such as Fuifui Moimoi, Brent Kite, Konrad Hurrell and Jason Taumalolo.

Despite scoring the first try of the game at the hands of Glen Fisi’ahi, Tonga found itself 20 – 4 down to Scotland at the end of the first-half. The team regathered itself at the break and made a spirited comeback with four tries scored in a row. Tries were scored by Nafe Seluini, Willie Manu and a dual by Sika Manu. Tonga retook the lead late in the second-half 24-20.

Despite dominating the second-half, the Scots regained the lead with a try in the last ten minutes of the game. Mate Ma‘a Tonga did not give up and came very close to scoring a try in the dying seconds. The Scots held-out to win the game 26 – 24.

Four converted tries and a penalty goal put Scotland ahead of Tonga’s five tries, with three failed conversions by fly-half Samisoni Langi proving costly.

Scottish sport can now call it even with Tonga - the Braveheart’s avenging Scotland’s equally shocking defeat to Tonga in a Rugby Union test match late last year.