Narrow win for Tonga
Touring Tonga beat Italy A 16-9 at Stadio Vittorio Pozzo in Biella on Friday night. The visitors led 16-0 at half-time.
Tonga got off to a flying start and led 16-0 after just 15 minutes. That was also the half-time score but then Italy A fought back and could well have drawn the match but prop Massimiliano Ravalle knocked on with an open line.
Italy A’s coach Gianluca Guides said afterwards: “We contested well during the match but unfortunately the start of the match was too much for us. I am only sorry that at the end we could not level the scores.”
Teams:
Italy A: 15 Andrea Marcato, 14 Matteo Pratichetti, 13 Andrea Pratichetti, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Michele Sepe, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Valerio Bernabò, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Antonio Pavanello, 3 Ignacio Rouyet, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Massimiliano Ravalle, 19 Gabriele Cicchinelli, 20 Luca Petillo, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Giulio Rubini.
Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Filimone Lilo, 14 Mateo Vakatalau Malupo, 13 Alaska Taufa, 12 Andrew Mailei, 11 William Helu, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Samiu Vahafolau, 7 Finau Maka (captain), 6 Tukulua Lokotui, 5 Sakuraemosi Kauhenga, 4 Paino Hehea, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Ephraim Taukafa, 1 Tonga Leaaetoa.
Replacements: 16 Ilaisa Maasi, 17 Ofa Fangaanuku, 18 Lisiate Faaoso, 19 Uelenitoni Fono, 20 Thomas Palu, 21 Soane Havea, 22 Isileli Matakaiongo Tupou.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
