Samoa A scored five unanswered tries to overcome an early deficit against their Tongan counterparts in the World Rugby Pacific Challenge at ANZ Stadium in Suva to get their campaign back on track with an emphatic victory.
Tonga A had opened the scoring with winger Fetuli Paea's third-minute try, before Samoa A edged ahead when D'Angelo Leiulia converted Ricky Ene's try 10 minutes later. The Tongans responded quickly with another try by their other winger Tuhakavalu Ika to lead 10-7 after 17 minutes but that would be the last points they would score.
Winger Fa'asauvale Lucky and captain Henry Stowers both crossed to give Samoa A a 19-10 lead at half-time and they grabbed control of the match with two tries in six second-half minutes through Ene and hooker Gafa Sua.
The score remained 33-10 until the final minutes when scrum-half Iosua Faalele crossed to claim a bonus-point win that lifts Samoa A into second place in the standings, above Junior Japan on points difference.
"First of all to have a crowd as good as this we are so fortunate. Big up to the Tonga team, they were physical and fast but I thought we stuck to our game plan well. We went wide and had pace and power and were able to finish," said Samoa A captain Henry Stowers.
Samoa A is placed second in the standings.
The Pacific Challenge concludes on Saturday when Fiji Warriors tackle Tonga A and Samoa A meet Junior Japan.