Marinos' men restore Welsh pride

Wales' Andy Marinos breaks away from Lua Lokotui

Wales A 26-23 Tonga

Wales A held out for a deserved win against Tonga at Stradey Park on Tuesday night thanks to an impressive all-round display.

Welsh rugby needed a shot in the arm after Argentina's comfortable victory at the weekend over Graham Henry's senior side.

And the Welsh second string provided the tonic by defending bravely, scrummaging ferociously and playing intelligently both with and without the ball.

The home side were marshalled superbly at half-back by the impressive Bath youngster Andy Williams and Neath fly-half Lee Jarvis.

Wales skipper Andy Marinos provided a cutting edge and stout defence in midfield, while the pack was dominant at set-pieces.

Wing Gareth Wyatt claimed Wales' first try

Wales fly-half Jarvis drew first blood with two early penalties and a drop-goal to leave Tonga trailing 9-0 after just 10 minutes.

The platform for this was built on the back of the Wales pack, who out-scrummaged Tonga despite a hefty weight disadvantage.

But when the Pacific Islanders got into the home side's territory they used every ounce of muscle to score the game's first try.

Opting for a five-metre lineout instead of going for goal, Tonga rumbled forward to send prop Ta'u Fainga'anuku over for a try, converted by Peri Hola.

Llanelli's Tongan centre Salesi Finau was making some typically muscular runs and challenges on his home ground, but he was matched in the Wales A side by opposite number Marinos.

Likewise in the forwards, Tonga lock Fakataha Molitika was making great inroads, while Marinos' Newport team-mate, number eight Andy Powell, was making the hard yards with ball in hand.

Marinos was held up over the Tonga try line after 20 minutes, but it did not matter as the skipper combined with Jarvis soon after to send right wing Gareth Wyatt over for a try.

Jarvis' conversion made it 16-7 to Wales, but Tonga fly-half Hola pulled a penalty back before the break.

Hola repeated the dose soon after the restart to pull Tonga back to within three points, which signalled a period of sustained pressure on the Welsh line.

Only some brave tackling - and possibly some frozen fingers among the Tongan players on a bitterly cold night - kept the Welsh line intact.

Wales increased their lead when referee Steve McDowell awarded a penalty try when Tonga collapsed a scrum inching towards their line, converted by Jarvis.

Andy Powell was a driving force in the Wales pack

However, the Wales front row of Chris Anthony, Mefin Davies and Duncan Jones were denied any further opportunity to display their scrummaging prowess as Tonga somehow ran out of fit props.

Referee McDowell had no option but to allow uncontested scrums with Tonga fielding flankers in the front row.

Hola and Jarvis exchanged penalties in the closing quarter, with Tonga running everything at the Wales defenders.

The visitors only broke through deep into injury time, when hooker Aleki Lutui claimed a consolation try.

Hola's conversion drew Tonga to within three points but it mattered little as the full-time whistle blew straight after.

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Wales A: Tries: C. Wyatt, Penalty try. Cons: Jarvis 2. Pens: Jarvis 3. Drop Goal: Jarvis.

Tonga: Tries: Lutui, Fainga'anuku. Cons: Hola 2. Pens: Hola 3.

Att: 1,200

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Wales A: B Davies (Llanelli); G Wyatt (Pontypridd), M Watkins, A Marinos (capt), B Breeze (all Newport); L Jarvis (Neath), A Williams (Bath); D Jones (Neath), M Davies (Pontypridd), C Anthony (Newport), C Billen (Ebbw Vale), C Stephens (Bridgend), N Budgett (Bridgend), J Ringer (Bridgend), A Powell (Newport).
Reps: G Williams (Bridgend), M Madden (Llanelli), N Bonner-Evans (Neath), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), H Harries (Bridgend), N Robinson (Cardiff), J Prichard (Newport).

Tonga: T Taufahema; S Matangi, S Moimoi, S Finau, S Kiole; P Hola, T Alatini (capt); F Ula, A Lutui, T Fainga'anuku, L Lokotui, F Molitika, T Fifita, C Hala'ufia, M Molitika.
Reps: T Felise, N Naufaha, V Ma'asi, F Fakaongo, A Mallei, I Afeaki, A Havili.

Referee: Steve McDowell (Ireland).