Rugby: Webb double key for Japan

James Arlidge kicked two penalties for Japan. Photo / Getty Images

Japan won but it was the hand of New Zealand that stretched their Pacific Nations Cup winning streak when they beat Tonga in a tight 21-19 victory in Lautoka yesterday.

Two tries from Shaun Webb, the former Otago first five-eighths now playing international rugby at fullback, and key performances from the former Highlanders' centre Ryan Nicholas and first five James Arlidge (of Auckland and Northland) got Japan home - but only after a last minute Tongan conversion attempt went astray.

Tonga scored three tries to two, including winger Tevita Halaifonua's finish in the corner in the final minutes. His own conversion attempt was wide, to the relief of the Japanese.

Japan's win, their first from three matches in the five-nation tournament, lifts them off the bottom of the Pacific Nations Cup table above Tonga s.

Japan have beaten Tonga in three straight encounters in the Pacific Nations Cup, providing their only wins in the four-year history of the tournament.

Their win was a close-run thing in the end, but reflected a two-thirds dominance of territory.

Lock Samiu Ika set up the first try midway through the spell after charging down a Japanese kick, setting up an attack ending in a try to inside centre Joseph Vaka, one of the standout players for Tonga.

But Japan's greater speed and precision saw them gain dominance through the second quarter. Webb scored tries in the 22nd and 33rd minutes as the Japanese forwards turned over some vital ball at the breakdown and through handling errors.

After Japan went into the second spell with a 15-7 lead, Tonga restored some continuity to push into Japanese territory. But their try five minutes into the half was due to some individual brilliance from hooker Ilaisa Ma'asi, who sold a dummy pass to shake off the last defender in a 35-metre charge to the line.

The converted try brought Tonga to within just one point of Japan before Arlidge took over the kicking duties for Japan and extended the lead to four points midway through the spell.

In the end, the boot made the difference on the scoreboard, with a penalty by Nicholas and two from Arlidge ensuring the win.

Meanwhile a second-half try by Vereniki Goneva lifted Fiji to a 19-14 win over Samoa yesterday, maintaining their top-10 world ranking.

Samoa led 9-3 at halftime in the match at Lautoka and, while both teams scored one second-half try, Fiji mounted a comeback win with a 14-point contribution from Seremaia Bai, who kicked a conversion and four penalties.

Another Kiwi, Samoa's Gavin Williams, kicked three first-half penalties, answered only by a penalty to Bai, to give Samoa an advantage at halftime.

The try by sevens star Goneva, converted by Bai, helped Fiji into a second-half lead which was increased by three Bai penalties.

Japan 21 (Shaun Webb 2 tries; James Arlidge 2 pen, Ryan Nicholas pen, con) Tonga 19 (Joseph Vaka, Ilaisa Ma'asi, Tevita Halaifonua tries; Pierre Hola 2 con). Halftime: 15-7.

Fiji 19 (Vereniki Goneva try; Seremaia Bai 4 pen, con) Samoa 14 (Ofisa Treviranus try; Gavin Williams 3 pen).