Tonga was overwhelmed by Churchill Cup champion Ireland A 48-19 at Belfast in the opening match of its European rugby tour on Friday.Tonga scored three tries but conceded seven. Ireland A scored 20 unanswered points after halftime to bump the score from 21-14 to 41-14.
Tonga was competitive in the first half against an Ireland A outfit including eight test players, among them captain Shane Horgan, scrumhalf Peter Stringer and flanker Neil Best.
Despite conceding a third-minute try and trailing 11-0, Tonga's backs flashed from a scrum and sent in fullback Vungakoto Filimone Lilo for a converted try.
Tonga prop Toma Toke was stretchered off injured and replaced by Po'alo'i Taula, and Ireland A dotted down twice more. But just before the break, on a counterattack, center Alipate Fatafehi surged into the Irish 22 and though his pass was grounded, inside center Sukanaivalu Hufanga scooped up and scored in the corner to cut the deficit to 21-14.
The second half started badly for Tonga with a yellow card for tighthead prop Mosese Moala.
Ireland A scored three successive tries to Best, fullback Gavin Duffy and a second for center Darren Cave.
Taula grabbed a consolation try for Tonga, but the Irish finished with an intercept try for substitute Ian Keatley.
Tonga move on to play Scotland A and Portugal.
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Ireland A 48 (Darren Cave 2, Brett Wilkinson, Andrew Trimble, Neil Best, Gavin Duffy. Ian Keatley; Ian Humphreys 3 penalties, conversion, Keatley conversion), Tonga 19 (Vungakoto Filimone Lilo, Sukanaivalu Hufanga, Po'alo'i Taula tries; Kurt Morath 2 conversions). HT: 21-14.
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