Samoa secured a resounding 43-17 victory over Tonga at Apia Park, continuing their dominance in the Pacific Nations Cup. The win extended Tonga’s winless streak in Samoa to 20 matches, with their last victory dating back to 1980.
Samoa took control early, building a commanding 29-0 lead by the 46th minute. The match’s first 12 minutes were uneventful, marked by a series of kicks, but the game came alive when Tonga kicked out on the full near their 22. Samoa capitalised with strong, direct carries, leading to Stacey Ili scoring his third try in nine tests.
Three minutes later, Samoa struck again. Halfback Melani Matavo exploited a gap in Tonga’s defense, setting up winger Tuna Tuitama for his first test try. Tuitama, who had recently debuted against Fiji, added another try just after halftime, furthering Samoa’s dominance.
Tonga showed brief resistance, scoring 17 unanswered points during a 15-minute flurry in the second half. No. 8 Lotu Inisi led Tonga’s resurgence, but their momentum was short-lived as handling errors returned.
Samoa sealed the win with a late try by Izalha Moore-Aiono, who was productive throughout the match. Hooker Sama Malolo earned Man of the Match honours for his combative performance, contributing 13 tackles and 10 carries. Lock Samuel Slade also stood out, benefiting from a lucky deflection that allowed him to sprint 50 meters to secure Samoa’s sixth consecutive victory over Tonga.
Next Friday, Tonga will face defending champions Fiji at Teufaiva Stadium, while Samoa enjoys a bye, marking their third win in four tests this year.
