Lively Halifax setting provides ideal venue for World Cup tie

TONGA versus Italy in Halifax with Scotland anxiously waiting at a Manchester hotel to see if they will face New Zealand in a quarter-final at Leeds.

This World Cup has, indeed, certainly sprung up some fascinating scenarios.

And it was a bloke from Nukualofa called Fuifui Moimoi – yes, he of the big hair, bigger charges and monster hits – that inspired the result that had Danny Brough’s kilted Bravehearts cheering 21 miles over the Pennines.

The fact that The Shay hosted a World Cup fixture yesterday was reason alone for cheer.

A decade ago, with its main stand seemingly permanently in a state of half-build, it would have been unthinkable.

But here Halifax, with their impressive ground now worthy of a return to Super League, was resplendent as more than 10,000 fans – its biggest crowd since they were demoted from the top flight 10 years ago – arrived in the autumn sunshine.

With the sold-out signs up and a vociferous crowd eager to get its own taste of a tournament that has engrossed they were duly satisfied with another classic.

Italy, one of the surprise packages that have lit up this World Cup, knew a victory would be good enough to displace Scotland from the top of Group C and, remarkably, secure that last eight tie with the holders.

In their first World Cup, the rank underdogs have dazzled themselves, stunning England beforehand and then beating Wales before drawing against the Bravehearts.

They had enough chances here to defeat Tonga, too, but could simply not overcome the sheer cussedness and resilience of a side that – even though it had no chance of progressing itself – was so determined to sign off in style.

Tonga, who shrugged off the second minute loss of hooker Patrick Politoni to injury, were relentless with their defensive efforts and ruthless when taking their own limited chances.

They led 2-0 at the break after a 39th-minute penalty from Samsoni Langi, preventing that rarity of a scoreless first half.

Konrad Hurrell had produced a desperate diving tackle on Cameron Ciraldo, the irrepressible prop Moimoi chipped in too.

Likewise, Tonga winger Daniel Tupou somehow held up opposite number Joshua Mantellato after he seemed destined to score in the corner, a feat only bettered at the start of the second period when Siosaia Vave responded in a similar fashion to brilliantly deny James Tedesco, the Italian centre who had raced clear.

It meant that soon after, when Tonga’s ex-Hull FC second-row Willie Manu sprung into life striding through three tacklers to stretch over with Langi converting, even at that early stage there was a sense eight points might be enough.

Italy threw everything at them but each time they were met by Tongan toughness. All the while, Moimoi was thundering around with his storming runs, skittling defenders, before full-back Nesiasi Mataitonga defused a towering bomb to race 70m downfield.

That set up position for scrum-half Daniel Foster to brilliantly dart over, Langi improved and Peni Terepo added a third try with seconds remaining.

Moimoi – ever the character – lined up the kick but he didn’t get chance to take it, fellow prop Brent Kite sneaking up to have a shot and miss.

It mattered little but brought an end to another colourful match – and relief in that Scotland camp.

Italy coach Carlo Napoloitano gracefully said the best team progressed; Scotland are one of only three remaining unbeaten teams at the end of the group stages, favourites Australia and holders New Zealand being the others.

Bravehearts coach Steve McCormack said: “We are immensely proud.

“We all watched it in a room together and to have that emotion and pleasure from a game that we could not control was unbelievable.

“We only enjoyed it when that final try was scored. That was when we relaxed.

“I feel a bit for Carlo Napolitano but he’s had a great tournament with Italy.”

Tonga: Mataitonga; Tupou, Hurrell, Fonua, Taufa; Langi, Foster; Kite, Politoni, Moimoi, Ta’ai, Manu, Paea. Substitutes: Seluni, Vave, Terepo, Likiliki.

Italy: A Minichiello; Mantellato, Tedesco, Guerra, Centrone; Falcone, Ghietti; Laffranchi, Parata, Vaughan, M Minichiello, Ciraldo, Riethmuller. Substitutes: Snowden, Tramonte, Santi, Nasso.

Referee: B Thaler (England).

QUARTER-FINALS – Friday: New Zealand v Scotland; Headingley, Leeds 8pm.

Saturday: Australia v USA; Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham 1pm; England v Samoa/France; DW Stadium, Wigan 8pm.

Sunday: Fiji v Samoa/France; Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington 3pm.