Tonga have got their Rugby World Cup campaign back on track with a 35-21 victory over Namibia at Sandy Park Stadium.
Ikale Tahi scored five tries in Exeter to put their shock defeat to Georgia in their opening Pool C fixture behind them and claim the extra bonus point that could improve their final position.
After a cagey start Tonga were first on the scoreboard in the seventh minute, Telusa Veainu seeing off two Namibian challenges before crossing the try line, with Vunga Lilo making a successful conversion.
Five minutes later they extended their lead through Jack Ram, who collected the ball from the scrum before taking off on a long run down the wing that saw him breeze past three attempted tackles before scoring the try.
Johan Tromp responded with a try for Namibia, who took full advantage of a mistake by their opponents to reduce the lead. However, Tonga scored their third try of the contest soon after, as Latiume Fosita scrambled the ball over the line after Joe Tu'ineau had been denied by a number of challenges a few yards short.
Tonga led 22-7 at the break and quickly set about extending it early in the second half, with Ram going over again after a long, mazy run by Veainu had opened up the space.
Namibia's Jacques Burger bundled the ball over for a try following sustained pressure on the Tongan backline, but Tonga moved further ahead within seven minutes as Veainu picked up his second try, collecting the ball from Ram on the overlap before crossing the line. Lilo, however, missed the posts with the conversion.
Burger then reduced the arrears in the 67th minute as he scored his second try of the contest. Namibia opted to go for an attacking lineout from a penalty instead of kicking for goal, and they were rewarded as Burger crossed the line following a successful drive. Bjorn Kotze added the conversion to move the Welwitschias within 11 points of their opponents.
However, they could not make the most of their momentum, as Tinus du Plessis gave away a penalty after coming in at the side. Kurt Morath, taking over kicking duties from Lilo, converted for the three points and became Tonga's all-time leading points scorer in the process.
Steven Toplis
