Tonga dash Samoa’s World Cup hopes
Samoa’s hopes of advancing to the playoffs of the Rugby League World Cup suffered a major blow tonight.
It did when Tonga handed them a 32-18 loss at the much-anticipated clash of the Pacific teams at Hamilton.
Fresh from a hat-trick in the opening-round win over Scotland, Michael Jennings claimed two further four-pointers on this occasion - twice capitalising on first-half errors from Ken Maumalo.
Tonga led 14-6 at the interval and then pulled clear in the second half with further scores from Peni Terepo and Ben Murdoch-Masila.
Ben Roberts and Tim Lafai went over as Samoa rallied, but Tonga were not to be denied and wrapped up an entertaining contest through Manu Ma'u's late score.