Tonga shock Australia to win rugby league international

Australia 12-16 Tonga InvitationalTevita Pangai Junior scores winning tryA Tonga invitational XIII have produced one of the greatest performances in rugby league history by taking down world champions Australia 16-12 in Auckland. In front of a pulsating crowd of 25,257 at Eden Park, the Tongans came back from six points down at half-time to claim a famous victory. It is Australia’s first defeat to a side other than New Zealand, England or Great Britain since going down to France in 1978.The Kangaroos were leading by six not long into the second half on Saturday when Kotoni Staggs was held up over the line by Daly Cherry-Evans. They didn’t have to wait for long to cut into the deficit however, with Michael Jennings scoring off a Will Hopoate cutout pass a minute later. The raucous sea of red was then sent into raptures when Tevita Pangai Junior crashed over off a no-look short ball close to the line for Tonga to claim a four-point lead. Related: Kiwis hold on for dramatic victory against Great Britain Related: Ultimate warrior Sam Burgess retires as one of England's best rugby league exports | Nick Tedeschi Continue readingread full article

Source: TheGuardian

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