Tremendous Tonga crush Cook Islands

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Tonga Men v Cook Islands Men

Tonga have completed their biggest win in Mens Internationals with a 92-10 success against Cook Islands in Middlesborough on Sunday.

The tone was set from the start with a try within 60 seconds, then Tonga just kept pace with the clock and ran in 16 tries to two in the rout. Five Tongan players scored multiple tries in the crushing win. 

Tonga set the standard right from kick-off. They just went the length of the field on the first set of the game which ended with Daniel Tupou diving over in the left corner and Isayia Katoa missed his only conversion of the half. 

Next it was a return with a bang for Jason Taumalolo. The Cowboys forward showed power to brush off several Cook Islands defenders before he slammed it down then it was poised when he scooped up a loose ball to stretch the advantage to 16. 

Doubles were the name of the first half. Three Tonga players scored twice in a half where Tonga led 52-0 going into oranges. Broncos fullback Tesi Niu showed off his support skills to stride away twice for a pair of tries.

The other Tongan player to touch down twice was Viliame Penisini. His first was from a no-look kick from Soni Luke then the second was a penalty try which was awarded after a Kukis defender took him out without the ball. 

Tui Lolohea started and finished a move which saw the half kick twice and chase through for a four-pointer. Felise Kaufusi touched down for the ninth try of the half when he ran a good line to stroll through the defence. 

They picked up where they left off in the first half. Isaiya Katoa who kicked eight goals in the first half, got into the try-scoring action. He finished off a move on last tackle to dive over.

Next it was a pair of hat-tricks for a tremendous Tonga side. First Niu completed his with a wonderful support run after Moses Suli just bamboozled the defence then Penisini snatched a pass intended for Ben Murdoch-Masila off a long break to get his trifecta. 

The try-scoring was just continous from a Tonga team which were relentless in Middlesborough. Lolohea snuck down the blindside for his second then Tupou danced over from close range to make it 80-0. 

Cook Islands weren't kept to nil in the huge defeat. After a few sets of pressure, they spun it right and Steven Marsters just got the ball down before he hit the sideline. It was reviewed by the video and given a huge cheer by the crowd when confirmed.

There were two tries left in the Tongan attack tonight. Penisini added another to his impressive display then Dragons five-eighth Talatau Amone finished off another long break from Tonga to make it 92-4. 

The game finished on a wonderful moment for Tinirau Arona in his final game. Brad Takairangi was on hand to take an interception. He strolled to the line and found Arona who gets the four-pointer. He then added the conversion in a 92-10 game.