Tongan Schools have wrapped up their tour of Australia with two wins and two losses, following a resounding 57-17 win over NSW Combined High Schools at Forshaw Rugby Park on Tuesday.
The Tongans showed steely determination to ensure they finished their tour of Australia with a balanced record.
An entertaining clash saw the Tongans run in nine tries to three against the NSW Combined High Schools side, which is selected from across NSW state high schools.
The game was close early on, with NSW CHS closing the gap to 7-5 in the first half, but the Tongan Schools eventually bounded away to a 19-5 lead at half time.
NSW CHS fought back early in the second half to close the gap to 26-12, but it was as close as they got.
Outside centre Siosifa Lisala was named Tongan Schools’ best player for his hat-trick performance, while NSW CHS scrumhalf Zeb Buchanan earned the honours for his side.
The Tongan Schools team started its tour of Australia in successful fashion, defeating the Australian Schools Rugby Union President’s XV 36-13 on the final day of the Novotel Australian Schools Rugby Championship.
The following two games weren’t as successful for the tourists falling 29-5 to Australia A Schools at St. Ignatius’ College, Riverview last Wednesday before a convincing 70-13 defeat at the hands of the Australian Schoolboys at St. Mary’s Leagues Stadium last Saturday.
The result wrapped up the Australian Schools Rugby Union schedule for July, with a new squad due to be selected in mid-August for a tour of Fiji and New Zealand.
The Australian Schoolboys touring party will be named on Tuesday 14August and will travel to Fiji for two fixtures.
They will meet the Fijian President’s XV in Nadi on 22 September before facing the Fijian Schools in Lautoka on 25 September.
The squad will then travel to New Zealand where they will face the New Zealand Barbarians in Auckland on 29 September.
They will also play Samoan Schools in Hamilton on 2 October before returning to Auckland to take on the New Zealand Schools on 6 October to conclude the tour.
Tongan Schools 57 def.
NSW CHS 17
Tongan Schools tries - Kimami Pasili Moala, Sateki Vakalahi, Sunita Palu Fihaki (2), Shinnosuke Tu’umoto’oa (2), Siosifa Lisala (3).
Tongan Schools conversions - Mosese Latu (6).
NSW CHS tries - Sione Tangi, Zeb Buchanan, Justin Dinopoulos.
NSW CHS conversion - John Porch.