AUSTRALIA BEAT TONGA 34-16 IN HISTORIC TEST MATCH

October 20, 2018

In the end the result didn’t matter.  The first rugby league test match between Australia and Tonga saw a packed Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland in a sea of red to support the underdogs.  The passion, sense of occasion, and expectations of the fans may have been overwhelming for Tonga in the end, as Australia redeemed their loss against New Zealand with a 34-16 victory.

Australia were on the board after just five minutes, as Daly Cherry-Evans swooped on a loose pass to race 35 metres to score.  Five minutes later, Tom Trbojevic was in, and Australia were up 12-0.  The crowd were brought back into the game when Tevita Pangai Jr raced into a yawning gap in the eighteenth minute to score Tonga’s first try.  Further tries to Valentine Holmes and Tom Trbojevic threatened to blow out the scoreline, but Daniel Tupou crossed to make it 24-10 late in the first half.  On the stroke of halftime, Valentine Holmes crossed for his second, and added a further two points when the referees ruled Holmes was collected high after planting the ball.

Leading 30-10 at halftime, Australia were in for a shock if they thought they would cruise to victory.  The Tonga side dug in, and cut the lead when Solomone Kata scored midway through the second half.  It was to be the last score for Tonga, but certainly not the last cheer from their fans.  James Tedesco scored a late try to complete a 34-16 win for Australia, but the Tonga team was mobbed by fans at the end of the match.  This match was always about more than football.  With Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain virtually on their own in the top tier of competition for close to forty years, this is the test match the sport needed to kick start their international reputation.  It certainly delivered on expectations.