Tonga break Japanese hearts
Tonga finally recorded their first win of the World Cup as they saw off Japan 31-18 in Whangarei.
Last Updated: 21/09/11 12:34pm
Tonga finally recorded their first win of the World Cup as they saw off Japan 31-18 in Whangarei.
An all-action entertaining contest could have gone either way until midway through the second half when Tonga were able to open up daylight on the scoreboard.
Viliami Ma'afu, Tukulua Lokotui and Fetu'u Vainikolo all crossed for tries, with Kurt Morath slotting over 16 points.
Japan had targeted the match as one of two games they wanted to win at the tournament but they were their own worst enemies.
Too many times they were turned over or penalised for indiscipline, while James Arlidge failed to land any of his shots at goal.
Kensuke Hatakeyama, Michael Leitch and Alisi Tupuailai did cross the whitewash, while Shaun Webb slotted over a penalty.
Tonga had come storming out of the blocks. Terrific defending from Fumiaki Tanaka held Ma'afu up over the line after three minutes, but there was no stopping the Tonga No.8 three minutes later as he powered over after a sustained spell of pressure.
Japan levelled on 12 minutes when Hatakeyama was deemed to have got the ball over the line after a series of drives in the Tonga 22.
Strength
But Tonga were back in front from the restart when Lokotui trundled over after Japan coughed up possession - although the final pass from Taufa'ao Filise looked forward. Morath converted.
There was no arguing about Japan's second try as New Zealand-born Leitch showed incredible strength to power over in the corner.
Morath, though, put Tonga 18-10 in front with two penalties - with Japan seeing Arlidge sin-binned as the referee Dave Pearson lost patience with the amount of indiscretions.
However it was Japan who finished the half with a flourish as stand-in kicker Webb slotted over a penalty.
There was little to choose between the two rivals at the start of the second half, but first blood went to Tonga through the boot of Morath.
And the South Sea islanders moved clear when Vainikolo made the most of some weak tackling to dive over in the corner. Morath converted
Tonga, though, were punished for a run of penalties when Halani Aulika was yellow carded - and Japan made them pay as Tupuailai crashed over.
Tonga gave themselves at 13-point cushion, though, with another Morath penalty - and despite Japan's best efforts in attack they could not find a way through, even after Lokotui became the third player to be sin-binned.