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WORLD CUP TONGA
Picture Gareth Cooper scores Wales' first try.

WALES EDGE OUT GALLANT TONGANS

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Wales were forced to battle hard for their second World Cup victory by Tonga, but secured a 27-20 triumph with a late cameo from replacement flanker Martyn Williams and some desperate defence.

The former British Lion landed a drop goal and then scored only his second Test try to finally seal the victory against a Tongan outfit whose threat was undermined by a hefty penalty count.

Gareth Cooper had given Wales the ideal start with an opportunist's try down the blindside while fly-half Stephen Jones finished with a personal haul of 14 points.

But his kicking was wayward at the beginning of the second half and it could have proven costly.

Tonga ran in three tries in all, through Pierre Hola, captain Benhur Kivalu and prop Heamani Lavaka just minutes from the end.

But Hola missed four of his six goal attempts and Wales survived a late onslaught to remain unbeaten and on course for a possible quarter-final showdown with England.




Team Sections
Pool D Standings
New Zealand 20
Wales 14
Italy 8
Canada 5
Tonga 1
Tonga Fixtures
12-36 v Italy
20-27 v Wales
7-91 v New Zealand
7-24 v Canada
Star Players
Inoke Afeaki (c)
Ipolito Fenukitau
Pierre Hola
Sililo Martens
Viliami Vaki
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