Late rally gives Tonga shock win against Scotland at Pittodrie
Scotland's autumn campaign will end without a win after they slipped to a shock 21-15 defeat to Tonga at Pittodrie.
Last Updated: 24/11/12 11:14pm
The hosts were either level or ahead for most of the contest but a late fightback, including tries from Lua Lokotui and Fetu Vainikolo, saw the Pacific Islanders come away with the spoils.
Greig Laidlaw kicked five penalties but Scotland were unable to find anything else in attack and slumped to a defeat which is sure to ramp up the pressure on head coach Andy Robinson.
Scotland fell behind early on as Fangatapu Apikotoa, who would kick 11 points in total, sent a penalty over from in front of the posts after missing an earlier attempt.
Laidlaw was also off-target with his first attempt from the tee but drew Scotland level after 11 minutes with a successful penalty of his own.
The hosts surged forward but were unable to find a try, even with a man advantage as Lokotui was sent to the sin bin, although Laidlaw did edge his side 6-3 ahead just before half-time with his second penalty.
The lead was extended to six points soon after the restart thanks to another Laidlaw kick but Tonga began to exert some pressure and grabbed the opening try when Lokotui burrowed over the line for a converted score.
Laidlaw kicked two more penalties to give the hosts a five-point lead entering the final quarter, but that advantage began to crumble when Apikotoa kicked another penalty in the 68th minute.
The visitors took the lead again when the ball was spread wide to Vainikolo, who ghosted past Nick De Luca to score the second try of the match.
Nili Latu and Sione Timani were both shown yellow cards to reduce Tonga to 13 men late on, but Scotland could not mount a comeback and Apikotoa kicked another penalty in the closing stages.
