Toa O Samoa Vs Mate Ma'A Tonga (Rlwc 2008)

Rugby League World Cup 2008: Toa Samoa beats Mate Ma'a Tonga. Samoa defeats Tonga 20-12 in World Cup match proving to be too strong for Tonga.

Center George Carmont's try the only scoring of the second half helped Samoa to a 20-12 win over Tonga on Friday in a Pacific Islands grudge match at the Rugby League World Cup.

Tonga, which beat Ireland 22-20 in its opening match Monday, had the bulk of 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 90-meter intercept try and Bulldogs National Rugby League star Matt Utai added a second as Samoa led 14-12 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 fullback 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 war dance the Siva Tau at the same time screaming out Samoan War Cries proceeding from their 35-meter line up to 50. They stood at the halfway line while Tonga did their Sipi Tau, 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.

Overall both teams played a hard, tough and entertaining game. Everyone kept their heads. Literally!

SAMOA MO SAMOA

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