Tongan Rugby Team in Nelson

The Tongan Rugby team which commenced its New Zealand tour in Nelson with a match against Nelson-Bays will be remembered for many reasons. Chief among them were the impeccable manners displayed during their stay in Nelson, their very forceful and attractive style of Rugby, their smart and colourful uniforms and, for those who heard them, their magnificent singing. Accompanying the 28-man team was the Premier of Tonga, Prince Tuipel-hake, and their manager, Father David Mullins, president of the Tonga Rugby Union and a member of a well known Canterbury Rugby family. The sun was shining when the team arrived and the day was relatively warm when they left. But on the day of the game conditions could not have suited them less. As well as a slippery surface on Trafalgar Park it was, except for a few brief minutes, blanketed in fog. So dense was it that at times the overhead lights were turned on in an attempt to pierce the gloom, and from the stand players were barely visible.

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The team at the airport.

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Mr Stan Whitehead, Nelson M.P., greets Prince Tuipelhake.

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Autograph hunters were quickly on the job.

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Nelson liaison officer, Mr Mans Rangi, greets captain, Bill Alipate. Father Mullins is at right.

Bewildered by the strong running and backing up of the Tongana in the opening stages of the game, Nelson-Bays faltered and Tonga scored 13 points in almost even time. But the home side made a good recovery and defended the goal-line to such good effect that not only was Tonga unable to score again before half-time, but Nelson-Bays reduced the margin to 5 points. Intelligent kicking in the second half put Tonga on the defensive and with Tongan fullback Kalani Hafoka having an off-day, Nelson-Bays kept play in the visitors' half for much of the second half. Handling lapses by the Tongans and a succession of penalties given against them cost them points. As well, Nelson-Bays fullback Trevor Morris was right on with his kicking and as well as kicking four goals (two conversions) he also dropped two magnificent goals to give him a personal tally of 16 for the game. Nelson-Bays got their noses in front and were not overtaken, notwithstanding two brilliant Tongan tries in the last six minutes. The visitors scored four tries - all of them fine efforts - to Nelson Bays' fairly scrambly two. And the home side won, 22-21. While Tonga is to be praised for some tremendous movements, so also must Nelson-Bays. The whole team, once it settled down, rose to the occasion. It was an exciting match, full of movement, and played in the very best of spirit.

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Rugby V.I.Ps in the stand - John. Mullins, Father Mullins, Dennis Young (All Black), Bill Craddock (N.Z.union council member), Jack Sullivan (union council chairman) and Prince Tuipelhake.

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Viliani Alipate and J. Allan lead their teams on to the field.

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The fog (the light at top is barely visible).

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Tongan halfback, Mafi, hotly pursued by Allan.