Tonga have hung on to defeat Canada 33-23 in an entertaining Pacific Nations Cup encounter that featured nine tries at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

Both sides had lost their previous two PNC matches, but it was the Tongans who held on for victory.

Tonga were blown off the park last week 41-7 by a speedy and physical Japan team, and in the opening stages of last night’s match it seemed they had taken a leaf out of the Brave Blossom’s book, racing away to a 19-8 half-time lead.

However the Tongans faded in the last quarter of the match, something that will continue to concern coach Toutai Kefu, allowing Canada to score three tries in that period.

But the ‘Ikale Tahi held on to win the match points and as coach Kefu said, it gave them a lot to work on heading into pre-world cup tests against Fiji and New Zealand.

Meanwhile the Flying Fijians will take on Samoa in their Pacific Nations cup match at 7.15 tonight at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.