Rugby Series

Tonga Lost The

But Won Respect

From A. F. TINSLEY, in Suva

Despite losing, two games \

one, the 11th test series be twee

Fiji and Tonga, the 1968 Tonga

rugby team which toured Fiji i

August and September, returne

home with the respect of thoi sands of Fiji rugby fans for the

aggressive and courageous pla\

In the words of their manage Father D. W. Mullins, who has dor so much for Tonga rugby over mar years, “they learned much that wi benefit them in their first-ever toi of New Zealand next year”.

The 25 players, average age 2, who except for a brief practise t< gether had not played as a team bi fore leaving Tonga, looked a formi< able lot on arriving by sea, singir lustily and with high hopes of victorious tour. Their combine weights totalled nearly four ton Their captain, forward Uaisale Lati kefu, “old man” of the team at 3' towered 6 ft 5 in. and weighed 17 stone. (He was in good company: 1 other members of the Tongan teai were over 6 ft tall.) One thing they were to learn ovt the next three weeks was that Fijiai were tough. The Tongans flew horn a battered band, one with a broke right leg, one with a broken ri (with which he bravely playe through the final test because thei wasn’t anyone else available) an others with lesser injuries.

Encouraging

The South Pacific Trophy, a giar tanoa made by the people of Kabar and presented years ago for annm competition between the two grouf by the late Tui Naiyau and by Rat Edward Cakobau, had eluded th Tongans again.

Fiji has now won it seven times and Tonga three. The first test, i 1924, was drawn.

In this age of over-plentifn penalty-kick scores, it was encourag ing to see proof of plenty of ball spinning play on the tour. Opposin; lines were crossed 30 times for trie and converted tries, with the honour going to Fiji by 20 times to 10

here were only 15 penalty-kick *>res, of which Fiji’s totalled eight, id just one drop goal in three tests id matches involving Suva, Rewa, adi, Lautoka and Nadroga.

Within five days of arriving—they ere welcomed by Sir Maurice Scott, esident of the Fiji Rugby Union, id a host of other officials—the angans took the field for their first atch, against Rewa, at Suva’s Buck irst Park.

The play did not set the field alight, id Tonga drew the match which swa should have won had it not «n for poor handling and a failure grab opportunities. The score was 6, after Tonga had led 3-0 at half ne.

The first test at Buckhurst, which llowed this game, was played he re some 5,000 people. It was [Other story altogether—a thrilling, ictuating struggle, with injuries lore. Fiji led 6-3 at half-time, only lose 6-8 with minutes left for play ter a lovely converted try by break vay Supelio Fotu and full-back >ne Sika.

During this game Tonga played ire and more as a team and Fiji, ter a brilliant opening, fell away der heavy pressure from the tre jndous assault of the hard-working mgan pack.

Victory

Another two point victory was inga’s, 12-10 after a 6-10 half-time licit, over Nadi, with Sika’s fine ±ing largely responsible for the □mph. Both sides tackled well and ne individual play was brilliant.

The second test was one that few 11 forget—a match in which Tonga’s tiger, Taniela Tonga, suffered a iken leg, in which the visitors led -3 at half-time, and in which a isational last-minute try gave Fiji 12-10 victory.

The winning score came as Fiji re hammering the Tonga line and eree Murray McNae was glancing dously at his watch. The ball ne to Fiji from a scrum, went ►se as a player was tackled, and s grabbed by Seru Naitau, play ; his first test match, who flung ciself over to produce one of the ►st sensational victories in the tory of the tests. \t the end of the game thousands spectators poured onto the pitch i fights broke out. It was some le before police could clear the ging, hysterically-happy mob.

Fhe Tongans were not at all pleased ier with this pitch invasion or with frequent encroachment of the

Packs were terrific

fitch during the game by the specta ors, and before leaving for home, father Mullins suggested Fiji should lo something to stop crowds from mpeding play.

The Tongans were showing ever ncreasing improvement in various ategories of play by the time they net Lautoka to fight a 14-14 draw fter Lautoka had led 8-6 at half ime. They threw the ball around in j-and style, but near full time, with 14-11 lead, over-eagerness gave way a penalty kick and Buli tied the core with a fine effort.

A huge crowd jammed Buckhurst *ark for the Suva-Tonga match, in /hich Suva, under-dogs in the betting, /on 12-3, after Tonga had led 3-0 t half-time.

There were some great offensives taged by both sides; the packs were srrific, with Suva’s excelling; and nder the fiercest of late pressure "onga sometimes went to pieces in anic. Outstanding for Fiji was the t. John’s College, Ovalau, old coy, >io “Bosco” Tikomaisuva, on the /ing, with a try from near the line nst before full-time.

Tonga then journeyed to the cane ountry to meet Nadroga who routed he visitors 24-3 after leading at half ime 8-0. They crossed the Tongan ine six times with tries and converted ries, which made Tonga’s lone goal, , penalty-kick by Panuve late in the ame, look very sad.

Chips were down

And so Tonga came to the third ?st and their final match. The chips /ere down; the score in games one -11.

After leading 5-0 in the fifth rfinute, and trailing 5-6 at half-time, 7 iji came through as victors and olders of the trophy by 13-9.

The winning try came from a srrific struggle near the Tongan line, fiji’s “Bosco” got possession and •assed to Tukaitabua. Nasova was up /ith the three-quarters, took Tukia abu’s pass and had to make the gonising split-second decision of whether to plunge through himself >r pass to unmarked winger, Sefanaia latu.

He did the sensible thing, barged hrough several players and flung limself over for what many felt was he greatest effort of the whole Tmgan tour.

High praise must go to Fiji’s kipper in all three tests, forward ope Naucabalavu, who commanded lis pack and his team well, and to ull-back Josateki Nasova, a former fiji captain.