Tonga denied in controversial finale as England hold out to reach Rugby League World Cup final
Dramatic finale sees England concede three late tries before Tonga have last-gasp penalty shout denied when Fifita has the ball knocked from his hands
England conceded three tries in the last eight minutes but held on to beat Tonga 20-18 in the second semi-final of the Rugby League World Cup to join defending champions Australia in the final.
Leading 20-0 in the 72nd minute, England appeared to be coasting towards their first World Cup final in 22 years.
But they suddenly found themselves under siege as Tonga scored late tries though Tevita Pangai Junior, Siliva Havili and Tuimoala Lolohea to draw within two points with less than two minutes remaining.
Tonga then had a chance to win when Andrew Fifita, a superstar of Australia’s National Rugby League, made a break less than a minute from the finish.
With the line open, Fifita had the ball struck from his grasp by England’s Elliott Whitehead, and the final whistle sounded amid a clamour of protests from the Tonga players, who insisted they were due at least a penalty. Fifita had also recovered and grounded the ball and claimed the winning try.
