Match Details
| New Zealand Maori |
VS |
Tonga |
|
20 |
Kick off times:
4:35pm
(Local) Sat 7 Jun
2:35pm
(AEDT) Sat 7 Jun
|
9 |
|
Maori see off Tonga
New Zealand Maori defeated Tonga 20-9 in a bruising encounter at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.
The first half saw some punishing tackles as defence dominated and it was little surprise that the only scores were a penalty apiece, by Maori’s Callum Bruce and Tonga’s Fangatapu Apikotoa.
Tamati Ellison scored the first try of the game 10 minutes after the break, which was converted by Bruce, to give New Zealand Maori a 10-3 advantage.
Apikotoa responded with a penalty before Bruce re-established a seven-point cushion with one of his own. Apikotoa cut the deficit once again, to 13-9, with a further penalty, but New Zealand Maori sealed the win in the 72nd minute with the try of the match.
Hosea Gear avoided a succession of attempted tackles as he burst down the touchline before offloading to Piri Weepu, who scored the try. Bruce added the conversion to make the final score 20-9.
