Australia scored a convincing 24-5 win over Tonga to remain undefeated in their pool matches at the Wellington Sevens this afternoon.
Captain Tim Clark and Manly's Matt Hodgson led the way in the first half, both scoring tries in the corner, with a sideline conversion by James Morgan from Wests giving them an early 12-0 lead.
However a touch judge report saw Shawn Mackay yellow carded for a scrum infringement with less than two minutes to go in the first half. Tonga took advantage of their extra man and would have scored on the stroke of halftime had it not been for a brilliant try-saving tackle by West Harbour's Nick Reily.
At the start of the second half Shawn Mackay was still counting down his two minute break on the sideline, and this time Tonga were about to capitalise with a try. However as soon as Mackay returned to the field, Australia were back into full swing and Reily crossed for his third try of the tournament. Morgan again converted from the sideline and Australia were up 19-5.
Morgan finished off a fine game with a try of his own in the final play of the game to take the score to 24-5.
AUSTRALIA 24 [Matt Hodgson, Tim Clark, Nick Reily, James Morgan tries; James Morgan 2 cons] defeated TONGA 5