ID :
29166
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 21:40
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/29166
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Tongans destroy Scots 48-0
Tonga has destroyed a battered and bruised Scotland in their final Rugby League World Cup match. The Pacific Islanders secured a seventh place in the event with their 48-0 dismantling of the Scots in front of a sellout 5913 crowd at Rockhampton's Browne Park.
The Scots were always up against it, missing inspirational captain Danny Brough and playing in oppressive 30 degree-plus heat in the city situated on the Tropic of Capricorn. But the Tongans had their own hurdles to overcome, with team manager Bob Jones missing the match in Yeppoon Hospital after experiencing chest pains on match
morning, and the death of coach Jim Dymock's father-in-law on game eve.
But Tonga were simply too strong for their northern hemisphere counterparts, who
failed to back up their shock win - Scotland's first in World Cup history - over
Fiji just last Wednesday.
Leading 24-0 at halftime, the Tongans picked up where they left off when Tony
Williams smashed his way over in the 45th minute, his conversion giving Tonga an
unassailable lead.
Cooper Vuna crossed for his second try 10 minutes later to make it 36-0.
Tired defence couldn't hold the Tongans from there, with tries from Fetuli Talanoa
(59th) and Michael Jennings (80th) completing the rout.
The Tongans had taken just four minutes to get on the board, using five-eighth and
man of the match Feleti Mateo's height to advantage.
Mateo went up for an Eddie Paea chip and came down with the ball to score near the
posts. Williams converted and it was 6-0 early.
A high tackle by Scottish prop Scott Logan on Eddie Paea put the Tongans on the
attack again, and Paea took the opportunity, scooting through a gap to score in the
eighth minute.
A forward pass ruled by referee Shane Hayne saved Scotland the embarrassment of
three tries in the first 14 minutes after Jennings had put Vuna over with a long
ball.
Scotland managed to gain some field position from there and were denied when second
rower Iain Morrison spilled the ball with the line open in the 22nd minute.
And it was Tonga who answered, with Etuate Waisele diving over in the corner a few
tackles after a 70-metre break by Jennings.
Scottish hopes were dashed again in the 33rd minute when hooker and captain Ben
Fisher burrowed from dummy half but lost the ball trying for downward pressure.
The Scots handed Tonga another six points just before the break when a loose pass
landed in Vuna's hands and he ran 90 metres to score under the posts for a 24-0
halftime lead.
The Scots were always up against it, missing inspirational captain Danny Brough and playing in oppressive 30 degree-plus heat in the city situated on the Tropic of Capricorn. But the Tongans had their own hurdles to overcome, with team manager Bob Jones missing the match in Yeppoon Hospital after experiencing chest pains on match
morning, and the death of coach Jim Dymock's father-in-law on game eve.
But Tonga were simply too strong for their northern hemisphere counterparts, who
failed to back up their shock win - Scotland's first in World Cup history - over
Fiji just last Wednesday.
Leading 24-0 at halftime, the Tongans picked up where they left off when Tony
Williams smashed his way over in the 45th minute, his conversion giving Tonga an
unassailable lead.
Cooper Vuna crossed for his second try 10 minutes later to make it 36-0.
Tired defence couldn't hold the Tongans from there, with tries from Fetuli Talanoa
(59th) and Michael Jennings (80th) completing the rout.
The Tongans had taken just four minutes to get on the board, using five-eighth and
man of the match Feleti Mateo's height to advantage.
Mateo went up for an Eddie Paea chip and came down with the ball to score near the
posts. Williams converted and it was 6-0 early.
A high tackle by Scottish prop Scott Logan on Eddie Paea put the Tongans on the
attack again, and Paea took the opportunity, scooting through a gap to score in the
eighth minute.
A forward pass ruled by referee Shane Hayne saved Scotland the embarrassment of
three tries in the first 14 minutes after Jennings had put Vuna over with a long
ball.
Scotland managed to gain some field position from there and were denied when second
rower Iain Morrison spilled the ball with the line open in the 22nd minute.
And it was Tonga who answered, with Etuate Waisele diving over in the corner a few
tackles after a 70-metre break by Jennings.
Scottish hopes were dashed again in the 33rd minute when hooker and captain Ben
Fisher burrowed from dummy half but lost the ball trying for downward pressure.
The Scots handed Tonga another six points just before the break when a loose pass
landed in Vuna's hands and he ran 90 metres to score under the posts for a 24-0
halftime lead.
