By Radio New Zealand

Japan and the USA will decide the Pacific Nations Cup title next week when they meet in Suva after victories over Tonga and Samoa respectively.

Both sides are unbeaten, with Japan thumping a visiting Tonga 41-7 and the USA sneaking past Samoa 13-10 in Suva.

Japan’s Brave Blossoms impressed with their second consecutive win over a Pacific Island side; their speed, handling and tenacity in the tackle shining through at Hanazono Stadium.

The home side contained a number of players with Tongan heritage and two of them, prop Asaeli Valu and number eight Amanaki Mafi, crossed for tries within the opening quarter of the match.

That early momentum was never lost with a 21-0 lead at the break followed by three second half tries creating a PNC decider when Japan meet USA next week in the final round.

Japan captain Michael Leitch said his team achieved what they wanted and he rated it an eight out of ten performance.

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu said he was disappointed but had to give credit to Japan who played and finished well.

Tonga’s only points came through a try by lock Leva Fifita, which was converted by halfback Sonatane Takulua.

USA Eagles fly high in Suva

The Americans also remain unbeaten after two rounds thanks to an injury time penalty to first-five A.J MacGinty which delivered them the victory over Manu Samoa.

Samoa’s Alapati Leiua scored a fifth minute try after an earlier MacGinty penalty had drawn first blood for the Eagles.

However it was MacGinty himself he crossed the line and regained the lead for the USA 14 minutes later.

The score remained the same until a 72nd minute penalty by second five Henry Taefu and the match looked headed for a draw.

However MacGinty was given one last chance to score with a penalty awarded near the Samoan 22m line which he slotted to the glee of the American side.

Historically Samoa had won the first five meetings between the two side but now the USA have notched up the last two consecutive victories.

Fiji bounce back to beat Canada

Fiji recovered from their first round loss to Japan, with a convincing 38-13 victory over Canada in Suva.

Flying Fijians coach John McKee made wholesale changes to the side that lost last week to Japan and the result was a much improved effort at ANZ Stadium.

Despite the return of attacking backline threats like Semi Radradra, Eroni Sau and Josua Tuisova, it was the forwards who made their mark in particular with five of the Fijians six tries scored by members of the pack.

Tuisova did mark his return well, crossing over for a 48th minute try.

Meanwhile star lock Leone Nakarawa also celebrated his first test as captain with a try.

Viliame Mata, Peceli Yato, Peni Ravai and replacement hooker Mesulame Dolokoto were the other tryscorers.

Nakarawa told reuters his team played really well but there were still improvements to be made heading into next week’s final round of the PNG but also looking beyond to the World Cup.

“If we look after the little things, the big things will follow,” he said.

In the final round of the PNC Tonga will meet Canada in Lautoka on Friday afternoon.

Japan and the USA will play in Suva before the test between Fiji and Samoa.

A report on the Tonga National Rugby League’s finances due next week is the key to the election of new board members.

As Kaniva Tonga news reported earlier, the Supreme Court dissolved the TNRL board and ordered an election of new board members at a special general meeting.

The Supreme Court warned it might take  further action against the League depending on the outcome of financial audit.

Judge L.M.Niu said the previous board had not managed the League’s funds in accordance with its constitution.

He said substantial funds were not accounted for.

Counsel for the league’s interim board, William Clive Edwards Jr, said as soon as the report was released the TNRL would be able to call an annual general meeting and elect new board members.

However, there is a dispute over exactly what day it will be released.

Legal counsel for the former members of the board, Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, said he understood the report would be finished by next Wednesday or Thursday.

However, Edwards argued that there was no court order fixing a time when the report was due.

Tu’utafaiva said the former board members of the TNRL would be eligible to be voted and to be nominated for the new board.

As Kaniva News reported in March, Siaosi  Koloamatangi was elected  Chairman of  the  League’s Board of  Directors during a special general meeting of the TRNL ordered by the Supreme Court.

The meeting was chaired by Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu.

The Supreme Court ruled in November last year that the new Board was to “carry on the affairs of the League, one of which shall be to have the finances of the League properly audited by a properly qualified chartered accountant.”

Once a proper audit was completed, the new Board of Directors would convene an Annual General Meeting to elect a new Board of Directors.

Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika, remains President of the League.

The main points

• A report on the state of Tonga National Rugby League is due next week.
• As soon as the report is released the TRNL will be able to call an annual general meeting and elect new board members.

For more information

Audit report on the financial statement from the Tonga National Rugby League is expected to due next week

New chair of TRNL board of directors elected at Supreme Court-ordered meeting

Supreme Court bans former rugby board members, president, from election meeting

Lord Fusitu’a’s health condition is deteriorating and he is “very slim,” a Ministry of Health source said this afternoon at 2pm.

He is “still on the ventilator. “

The source denied earlier reports on social media that the king’s noble has died from his illness.

It is understood his condition is now being monitored at Vaiola’s intensive care unit.

As Kaniva news reported yesterday, the source said “He is very sick,”  but gave no further details.

Recent photos of Lord Fusitu’a shared on social media appeared to show the noble looked quite ill, according to observers.

The king’s noble and Member of Parliament was sent from Tonga to a New Zealand hospital last year after he reportedly fell over and broke his leg.

A 20-year-old man is denying killing another man outside ‘Utulei nightclub.

Tevita Kātoa of Ma’ufanga was accused of killing Pita ‘Aipolo in August 23, 2018.  

He has pleaded not guilty to his charges of murder, manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm, the Kele’a newspaper has reported.

‘Aipolo was rushed to hospital where he died from his injuries, one month later.  

The court was told the incident occurred after the accused was denied entry into the nightclub because he was too drunk.

A security guard at the bar told the court he saw Kātoa allegedly beating the deceased.

He alleged Kātoa told him that he wanted to beat the deceased.

Police reportedly arrested Kātoa two days after the incident.

Kātoa’s legal counsel said his client has rejected the allegations that he killed ‘Aipolo, the paper said.

Justice Charles Cato was expected to  direct a jury to commence deliberating a verdict.

Lord Fusitu’a is seriously ill in Vaiola hospital, a Ministry of Health source said today.

“He is very sick,” the source told Kaniva news but gave no further details.

Recent photos of Lord Fusitu’a shared on social media appeared to show the noble looked quite ill, according to observers.

As Kaniva news reported previously, the king’s noble and Member of Parliament was sent from Tonga to a New Zealand hospital last year after he reportedly fell over and broke his leg.

His medical treatments have cost taxpayers about thousands of pa’anga, the source said.

His serious health condition today came after he accused the Prime Minister in Parliament last month saying Hon Pōhiva planned to conduct a ‘political meeting’ with Tongans in New Zealand while he was being paid by taxpayers to travel for his medical treatment.

The government bench told Lord Fusitu’a the Parliament’s law book prevents MPs from discussing anything regarding an MP who was not present in the House.

But Fusitu’a insisted there was a ‘precedent’ for this sort of law after the Prime Minister previously questioned his illness and sick leave in the House.

This has led into a heated debate with some of the other noble MPs joined in and called on Minister of Health to explain about the Prime Minster’s health condition.

However, the debate ended after the Minister of Police told the House the Prime Minister paid for his medical travel expenses with his own money.

Hon Māteni Tapueluelu said the cabinet was told the Prime Minister wanted to make a contribution.

The government has paid out more than TP$60,000 to teams, individual athletes and sport federations which won medals for the kingdom at the Pacific Games 2019.

Tonga came seventh overall in the Pacific Games medal tally.

The kingdom’s athletes won a total of 29 medals, including nine gold, five silver and 15 bronze.

Top medal winners for Tonga were:

‘Aisake Tu’itupou, gold for the men’s 109kg+ , clean and jerk and 109kg+ overhead; bronze for men’s 109kg+ snatch; Mōsese Foliaki, gold for the men’s high jump and 110m hurdle; Malia Pāseka won bronze for the women’s 57-62kg taekwondo and Ato Maama Tu’utafaiva, won gold for women’s shotput and bronze for women’ discuss.

Other gold medal winners included Lile Loumoli for the women’s team taekwondo; Moala Takelo for the 80-87kg taekwondo; the men’s taekwondo team and Sēmisi Fanguna and Matavao Fanguna for the men’ tennis doubles.

How  is prize money awarded?

The gold medalists received cash prize of  $2,000 each while each silver and bronze medalist received $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.

The gold winning teams received $4,000 cash prize each, silver teams received $3,000 while the bronze received $2,000 each.

Each National Sports Federation which won a gold medal received $2,000, silver winners received $1,500 each while each bronze winner received $1,000.

The Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva thanked the athletes and coaches during a celebration at the Taufa’ahau Domestic wharf building last night for the biggest success in Tonga’s Pacific Games participation history. He also thanked the athletes’ parents for their supports.

The prize awards event was attended by the New Zealand and Australian High Commissioners as well as some Cabinet Ministers.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to show that more than TP$60,000 was paid out as prize money to Tonga’s Pacific Games medalists.