Tonga win thriller against Ireland
October 27, 2008

TONGA overcame adverse decisions on and off the field to beat Ireland 22-20 in a thrilling rugby league World Cup match at Parramatta Stadium.

Denied access to NRL stars Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki by the NSW Supreme Court before the match, Tonga was twice reduced to 12 men in an eventful poll three encounter.

Winger Damien Blanch scored a hat-trick of tries to give Ireland a sniff of causing the first big boilover of the competition.

However, the appropriately-named winger Esi Tonga helped his team overcome a late 20-18 deficit with a decisive 73rd minute try.

It was a case of going from villain to hero, as Tonga was one of two members of his team sin-binned by British referee Steve Ganson.

Ireland scored their first three tries and 14 points while Tonga were outnumbered.

Down 6-0 early, following a converted try to Tonga's Penrith star Michael Jennings, Ireland fully capitalised when Esi Tonga was binned for repeated infringements in the 23rd minute.

Blanch crossed for his first try three minutes later and fullback Michael Platt gave the Wolfhounds the lead despite what appeared to be a blatant forward pass by halfback Karl Fitzpatrick.

With their full complement restored, Tonga hit back with a try to winger Cooper Vuna and led 12-10 at the break following a penalty to halfback Joel Taufa'ao.

The see-sawing encounter took another twist in the 49th minute when Tongan five-eighth Feleti Mateo was sin-binned for back chatting.

Blanch scored his second try before Mateo returned to put Ireland back in front, but Tonga hit back to regain the lead with their third try.

Blanch completed his hat-hat-trick to snatch the lead back for Ireland, but Tonga's late four-pointer prevented the Wolfhounds from causing the upset.