Tipping Competition2024
Mateo magic - Australian Rugby league News
Back
globalrugbyleague - Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:45:00 GMTIrish fans in Dublin were forced to walk the streets in sorrow last night after a late 40/20 from Feleti Mateo bailed Tonga out of trouble via a late 22-20 win at Parramatta Stadium.
With 15 minutes remaining, the Irish regained the ascendancy when Damian Blanch scored Ireland’s first hat-trick in a World Cup after plucking a perfectly weighted Liam Finn kick out of the air to score out wide.
A Pat Richards conversion put the European underdogs in front for the second time that night before Mateo kicked a surprise 40/20, setting up the platform for the game changing try.
Tongan coach Jim Dymock told the media that’s what he expected from Mateo.
"He is probably our go-to man, and the more times he gets his hands on the ball, the better we will go."
Disappointed coach Andy Kelly praised him troops for the doggedness and refusal to give up.
"It's hard to explain how proud I am of the boys. We were written off before the game, but the lads matched fire with fire and proved we will be a handful for any side."
It was an important win for the Tongans who earlier in the day lost their bid in the NSW Supreme Court to have Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki available for the clash.
Crowd attendance was a little down though the fact that some fans went dressed as blue seats might help explain why.
Tonga 22 (Michael Jennings, Cooper Vuna, Etuate Uaisele, Esikeli Tonga tries; Joel Taufa'ao (2/3), Tony Williams (1/1), Feleti Mateo (0/1) goals) d Ireland 20 (Damien Blanch (3), Michael Platt tries; Pat Richards (2/4) goals) Crowd: No comment. - Read More, Here
With 15 minutes remaining, the Irish regained the ascendancy when Damian Blanch scored Ireland’s first hat-trick in a World Cup after plucking a perfectly weighted Liam Finn kick out of the air to score out wide.
A Pat Richards conversion put the European underdogs in front for the second time that night before Mateo kicked a surprise 40/20, setting up the platform for the game changing try.
Tongan coach Jim Dymock told the media that’s what he expected from Mateo.
"He is probably our go-to man, and the more times he gets his hands on the ball, the better we will go."
Disappointed coach Andy Kelly praised him troops for the doggedness and refusal to give up.
"It's hard to explain how proud I am of the boys. We were written off before the game, but the lads matched fire with fire and proved we will be a handful for any side."
It was an important win for the Tongans who earlier in the day lost their bid in the NSW Supreme Court to have Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki available for the clash.
Crowd attendance was a little down though the fact that some fans went dressed as blue seats might help explain why.
Tonga 22 (Michael Jennings, Cooper Vuna, Etuate Uaisele, Esikeli Tonga tries; Joel Taufa'ao (2/3), Tony Williams (1/1), Feleti Mateo (0/1) goals) d Ireland 20 (Damien Blanch (3), Michael Platt tries; Pat Richards (2/4) goals) Crowd: No comment. - Read More, Here