LAUTOKA, Fiji - Flyhalf Kurt Morath kicked 17 points as Tonga beat Fiji 32-20 on Friday in the teams' final warmup match before next month's Rugby World Cup.

Morath kicked a conversion and five penalties as Tonga avenged a 27-12 defeat by Fiji last weekend.

Morath kicked the first points of the game with a 20th minute penalty, and Tonga also scored the first try when winger Vungakoto Lilo crossed in the 22nd minute. Fetu'u Vainikolo carved open the Fiji defence and hurled a long crossfield pass to his fellow winger Lilo who gave Tonga an 8-0 lead.

Flyhalf Waisea Luveniyali put Fiji on the board with a penalty after 28 minutes and the home side briefly claimed the lead with a try to Rupeni Nasiga in the 32nd minute. Netani Talei won a 22 metre dropout and broke down the sideline before passing infield to Nasiga who scored, and Waisea Luveniyali converted to make it 10-8 to Fiji.

A further penalty to Morath gave Tonga an 11-10 lead at halftime.

Morath kicked two more penalties to expand Tonga's lead to 17-10 and that gap was widened further when Fetu'u Vainkolo scored as Tonga pounced on a dropped pass among the Fiji backs.

Luveniyali's second penalty cut the lead to 22-13 but Tonga scored its third try through centre Alipate Fatafehi and Morath converted for a 29-13 advantage. Tonga's forwards became increasingly dominant as the match progressed and as the fitness of Fiji's weakened pack began to wane.

A 77th-minute penalty to Morath gave Tonga a 32-13 lead but Fiji managed to close the gap with a try to Leone Nakarawa, converted by Luveniyali, in the fourth minute of injury time.

Tonga will play New Zealand in the opening World Cup match in Auckland on Sept. 9.

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Tonga 32 (Vungakoto Lilo, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Alipate Fatafehi tries; Kurt Morath conversion, 5 penalties), Fiji 20 (Rupeni Nasiga, Leone Nakarawa tries; Waisea Luveniyali 2 conversions, 2 penalties). HT: 11-10.

Pic (C) www.inpho.ie