Tonga beat Irish in W Cup

SYDNEY – Tonga scored a try with just seven minutes left on the clock to kill off a passionate Ireland and win their opening rugby league World Cup game 22-20 at Parramatta Stadium yesterday.

The Pacific islanders, denied access to National Rugby League stars Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki by the New South Wales Supreme Court in an eligibility ruling earlier in the day, prevailed in the most exciting contest in the tournament so far. Played in sapping heat, both sides scored four tries in a pulsating contest, with Tonga’s extra conversion proving the difference between two evenly matched sides.Tonga were twice reduced to 12 men in the Pool Three match – only their second win at a World Cup.Gold Coast Titans winger Esikeli Tonga scored the winning try in the 73rd minute.He was one of two players from his side sin-binned by English referee Steve Ganson.Ireland’s Wolfhounds scored their first three tries and 14 points while Tonga were outnumbered.Wakefield Wildcats winger Damien Blanch scored a hat-trick of tries to give Ireland a sniff of causing the first big boil-over of the competition.Tonga will have little recovery time before their next pool game against fellow Pacific islanders Samoa in Penrith on Friday.The Wolfhounds will not play again until November 5, against the Samoans at Parramatta Stadium.Nampa-AFPPlayed in sapping heat, both sides scored four tries in a pulsating contest, with Tonga’s extra conversion proving the difference between two evenly matched sides.Tonga were twice reduced to 12 men in the Pool Three match – only their second win at a World Cup.Gold Coast Titans winger Esikeli Tonga scored the winning try in the 73rd minute.He was one of two players from his side sin-binned by English referee Steve Ganson.Ireland’s Wolfhounds scored their first three tries and 14 points while Tonga were outnumbered.Wakefield Wildcats winger Damien Blanch scored a hat-trick of tries to give Ireland a sniff of causing the first big boil-over of the competition.Tonga will have little recovery time before their next pool game against fellow Pacific islanders Samoa in Penrith on Friday.The Wolfhounds will not play again until November 5, against the Samoans at Parramatta Stadium.Nampa-AFP