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| Kaeon Koloamatangi scored a remarkable winning try for Tonga |
Tonga and Papua New Guinea injected a renewed sense of joy
into the Rugby League World Cup, a sense that had been a little dulled by
controversy over ticket prices and low attendances, with the first truly
competitive game of the tournament.
In front of 10,409 at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium, the
two South Pacific nations served up a see-sawing encounter that remained in the
balance until Kaeon Koloamatangi’s 78th minute try gave Tonga a 24-18 victory.
With the game poised at 18-18, it looked as though the
Tongans had fluffed their opportunity from good field position to score a
winning drop goal.
A scrambling and – appropriately enough given the venue – St
Helens-esque passage of play followed, in which the ball passed through eight
pairs of hands before Koloamatangi touched down Siosiua Taukeiaho’s grubber.
The Kumuls more than played their part in this match,
leading 6-0 early in the piece and coming back from an 18-6 half-time deficit
to level matters. They were unlucky too in having Rodrick Tai’s finish
controversially ruled out by the video referee.
* * *
England will avoid Australia and New Zealand until the
final, but getting to the final will still not be an easy task.
It seems probable at the moment that England would have to
get past PNG in the quarter final and Tonga in the semi in order to reach Old
Trafford. On the basis of the hosts’ performance against Samoa you would back
them in both fixtures, but it will not be an easy route to the final.
Things are also not easy for Wales, who in pursuit of their
first win at a World Cup tournament in over two decades face PNG and Tonga in
their remaining Group D matches.
The Dragons’ best chance of a win came against Cook Islands
on Wednesday, when in another pulsating match the Pacific nation posted an
18-12 win.
Wales – who led twice through Rhodri Lloyd and Ollie Olds –
had a superb chance to claim at least a draw after a charge down from Lloyd
gave them unexpected field positon in the dying moments of the game, but
unfortunately the resulting set was nowhere near smart enough.
* * *
One of the tries of the tournament so far was posted by
World Cup debutants Greece in the closing moments of their 34-12 defeat at the
hands of France.
A sweetly positioned kick from Billy Magoulias created the
space for Nick Mougious to make his run before sending two defenders scampering
in the wrong direction and finishing superbly.
It was also wonderful to see video on Twitter of a crowded
bar in Athens erupting in celebration when mid-way through the second half
Siteni Taukamo crossed for the Greeks’ first ever World Cup try.
France were comfortable winners, but it remains to be seen
whether they can overcome Samoa and claim a place in the quarter finals.
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