Tonga just beat Italy A
Wednesday November 09 2005
Better finish
The touring Tongans beat Italy A 33-27 in Livorno on a sunny Wednesday afternoon before about as thousand spectators, including the president of the Italian Rugby Federation Giancarlo Dondi and the coach of the national team Pierre Berbizier.
Italy play Tonga in Prato on Saturday.
Italy A put great pressure eon Tonga from the start and came close to scoring but were frustrated by poor finishing. While Italy A attacked, Tonga defended bravely and gradually came more and more into the game and then it was their turn to loose the ball at the goal-line.
Tonga opened the score when Samuela Lisala scored under the posts and Fangatapu Apikotoa converted. 7-0.
Then, just as Tonga seemed about to dominate, Italy A struck back with a try by Roberto Pedrazzi which Alberto Di Bernardo converted.
Shortly before half-time big prop Alani Maka went over for a try, again converted by Apikotoa. Di Bernardo kicked a penalty goal, which made the half-time score 14-10 to Tonga.
Two penalty goals by Di Bernardo made the score 24-13 but then Tonga pulled away with two quick tries by Apikotoa and Lisala, both converted by Apikotoa and suddenly the Tongans led 28-13 after just 13 minutes of the second half.
A try by David Dal Maso and a penalty try helped Italy A to get close at 28-27 but a final try by Fisilau, six minutes into injury time, sealed the victory for Tonga.
Scorers:
For Tonga:
Tries: Lisala 2, Maka, Apikotoa, Fisilau
Cons: Apikotoa 4
For Italy A
Tries: Pedrazzi, Dal Maso, ;penalty try
Cons: Di Bernardo, Marcato 2
Pens: Di Bernardo 2
Teams
Italy A: 15 Andrea Marcato; 14 Claudio Spadaro, 13 Roberto Pedrazzi, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Antonio Mannato; 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Pietro Travagli; 8 Gonzalo Padrò, 7 Silvio Orlando, 6 Andrea Benatti; 5 Andrea Bezzi (captain), 4 Enrico Pavanello; 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Luigi Ferraro, 1 Salvatore Costanzo
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Luigi Milani, 18 Mario Vella, 19 David Dal Maso, 20 Julio Alcacer, 21 Pino Patelli, 22 Valerio Santillo
Tonga: 15 Sila Va'enuku, 14 Tevita Tiueti, 13 Suka Hufanga, 12 Keni Fisilau, 11 Samuela Lisala, 10 Fangatapu Apikotoa, 9 Siole Nau, 8 Chris Halaufia, 7 Viliami Vaki (captain), 6 Ma'ama Molitika, 5 Milton Ngauamo, 4 Talite Vaioleti, 3 Alani Maka, 2 Ifalemi Taukafa, 1 Peni Fakalelu
Replacements: 16 Viliami Maasi, 17 Ma'afu Pale, 18 Fakataha Molitika, 19 Ueleni Fono, 20 Soane Havea, 21 Elisi Vunipola, 22 Vaea Poteki
Referee: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
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Tusi, mi no' digo niente, ma gnanca no' taso! Ne la vita pubblica, come nel rugby, ghe xe momenti tragici e altri, peggio ancora, seri: in quei momenti, trovar la forsa per xogar! In campo!
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