Center George Carmont’s try — the only score of the second half — helped Samoa to a 20-12 win over Tonga yesterday in a Pacific Islands grudge match at the Rugby League World Cup.
Tonga, who beat Ireland 22-20 in their opening match on Monday, had the bulk of the early possession, but trailed 10-0 at Penrith in western suburban Sydney. It was Samoa’s first match of the tournament.
Captain Nigel Vagana scored a 90m intercept try and Bulldogs National Rugby League star Matt Utai added a second as Samoa led 14-12 at halftime after winger Francis Meli had given Samoa a 4-0 lead after three minutes.
Tonga hooker Tevita Leo-Latu scored his team’s first try and center Michael Jennings the other after taking a flick pass from Tony Williams, who provided Tonga’s other points with two goals.
The match featured several big hits and crunching tackles. Samoan prop Kylie Leulau’i was placed on report by referee Shayne Hayne for a high tackle on Tonga full-back Fetuli Talanoa in the first half.
The prelude to the match between the traditional rivals was fiery. The singers of the national anthems walked off arm in arm with their national flags in a show of unity, but there was nothing friendly about the threatening war dances each team performed minutes later.
Samoa did their Maori haka-style dance first, proceeding from their 35m line up to the 50m line.
They then stood at the halfway line while Tonga did a similar dance, but despite much screaming, mock slitting of throats and swordplay, order prevailed as neither team crossed the midfield line.
At halftime, several players exchanged heated words as they trotted to the sidelines.
The last 10 minutes featured good scoring chances by each team, before costly turnovers ended the threats.
At the end of the match, fans invaded the pitch, forcing a television interview with Michael Jennings of Tonga to be cut short when spectators began jostling with the interviewer and Jennings.
In other weekend matches, Fiji will play their first match of the tournament today against France, who beat Scotland 36-18 in their opener.
Also today, New Zealand meet Papua New Guinea in a match pitting together two teams who lost their opening matches.
Tomorrow, unbeaten Australia and England meet in Sydney. Australia defeated New Zealand and England downed Papua New Guinea last weekend.
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