Swire Shipping Fijian Warriors cap­tain Frank Lomani hailed the impact of halves partner Caleb Muntz as the Fijians scored a resounding 56-14 win over Tonga A in the World Rugby Pacific Chal­lenge yesterday.

The Warriors were off to a flying start at Suva’s ANZ Stadium with early tries to prop Eroni Mawi and wing Tira Patterson keep­ing the Tongans on the back-foot from the very start.

Tonga A hit back through captain and first five –eighth Liueli Simote, running in be­hind the Fijian defensive line after a solid win at the scrum.

The Fijians enjoyed the physical contest more than the Tongans in the early part of the first-half, stringing together offloads with ease which the opposition had little an­swer for.

Two tries in quick succession to No. 8 John Dyer and wing Veramu Dikidikilati stretched Fiji’s lead to 15 points, as the hosts moved to secure the bonus points.

Tight-head prop Luke Tagi then rampaged over the line to extend Fiji’s lead with centre Enele Tikotani converting to make it 29-7.

The Tongans reduced the deficit 4 minutes from half-time after sustained attacking play allowed fullback Alefosio Vahe to squeeze in the visitors’ second try.

Halftime: Fiji Warriors 29-14 Tonga A

Although it seemed like a perfect perfor­mance by the Fijians, coach Senirusi Seru­vakula will be worried about his defence ahead of the next week’s game against Jun­ior Japan.

Tonga A managed to carve out a scoring op­portunity every time they kept possession longer than a few minutes.

Fiji Rugby Union’s 2018 Player of the Year Lomani put in an accomplished performance at scrum-half , dictating play with slick and accurate passing alongside Muntz.

The second-half started in much the same way as the first with Mawi getting his second of the evening four minutes in after some good work at the scrum, extending Fiji’s lead to 20 points.

Substitute fullback Samusamuvodre Tuid­raki further added to Tonga A’s misery, run­ning past two defenders after collecting the ball deep in the Tongan half to make it 39-14.

Dikidikilati got his second and Fiji’s eight try after some slick passing by Muntz freed up space for the winger to attack Tonga’s left flank. The Warriors led 44-14.

Patterson made it 49-14, scoring his second try of the evening to cap a brilliant perfor­mance by the Fijian wingers.

Tuidraki got his second try of the game, finishing off an impressive attacking move that started in the Warriors’ own half, with Tikotani converting to make it 56-14.

Comments

Swire Shipping Fiji Warriors captain Frank Lomani said :

“The game was a good, physical contest and we thank the Tongans for a gallant perfor­mance.

“We want to work on our mistakes before we play Junior Japan next week where hope­fully we can put in a better performance.

“As for my pairing with Caleb (Muntz), we both have experience playing in those posi­tions and I think that’s why we were able to gel together well.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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