Apia, Samoa – In a spectacular return to form, Manu Samoa defeated Tonga 43-17 in a commanding performance at Apia Park on Friday, August 30, 2024, as part of the Pacific Nations Cup. This victory comes as a crucial boost for the Samoan team after their heavy loss to Fiji the previous week, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the semi-finals.
First Half: Dominance from the Start
Samoa started the match with intensity and precision, quickly taking control with a 17-0 lead by halftime. Their robust defence and dynamic attack were on full display as they scored two converted tries and a penalty goal in the first half. Winger Tuna Tuitama was a standout performer, scoring two tries, while centre Stacey Ili crossed over from a powerful surge off the base of the ruck to set up a strong foundation for the home side
Second Half: Tonga's Fightback and Samoa's Resurgence
Tonga attempted a comeback in the second half, reducing the deficit to 29-17 with 20 minutes remaining, thanks to two tries from loose forward Lotu Inisi and a penalty by fly-half Patrick Pellegrini. However, Samoa sealed their victory with two late tries by Izaiha Moore-Aiono and Samuel Slade, ensuring a decisive win for the hosts. Fly-half D'Angelo Leuila was pivotal, converting all of Samoa's tries and adding a penalty goal to the scoreboard
Despite the impressive scoreline, Manu Samoa head coach Mase Mahonri Schwalger expressed mixed feelings about his team's performance, noting some concerns about the execution of their game plan. "We take the win... but pretty disappointed with some of our skill-set that I saw out there. They didn't really secure the game plan that we worked so hard on in the last couple of days," he said
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Samoa remains in contention for the semi-finals, sitting in second place in Pool A. Their next match will be determined based on the results of other fixtures, particularly Tonga's upcoming game against Fiji in Nuku'alofa. Meanwhile, Samoa has a bye next week, allowing them some rest before the next round of the tournament
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