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Feleti Mateo playing for Tonga in 2008 - Source: Photosport
Fiji restored some pride in their international rugby league season with a 26-16 win over Tonga in the Pacific Cup rankings playoff on Saturday.
Semi-finalists in last years World Cup, the Bati showed greater enthusiasm in defence than their opponents in a scrappy game at Port Moresby's Lloyd Robson Oval.
Fiji ended an error-strewn first half 10-4 ahead and held off a late Tonga fightback thanks to two tries from Newcastle Knights winger Akuila Uate.
But it was Fiji's locally based players who ran the show, with Joe Ravueta scoring twice and loose forward Jone Wesele putting in a man of the match performance.
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