Canada mounted a storming comeback to edge past Tonga 25-20 in their Pool A encounter at Northland Events Centre.

Tries in the last quarter of an hour from number 8 Aaron Carpenter and wing Phil Mackenzie helped Canada maintain their 100 per cent record against Tonga in Rugby World Cups.

Two tries from Siale Piutau had helped Tonga to a 20-13 lead midway through the second half before the Canadian try-scorers struck.

Piutau crossed just before half-time and again on 53 minutes to register the first brace of tries by a Tongan player in a Rugby World Cup.

Canada went into the break with a slender 10-7 lead but Tonga full back Kurt Morath levelled straight after the interval with a penalty.

James Pritchard replied almost immediately to restore Canada’s three-point lead before Piutau’s try, successfully converted, like his first, by Morath.

As the second half wore on Tonga began to find more shape to their play and another Morath penalty took them 20-13 ahead.

Then, however, Canadian number 8 Aaron Carpenter powered through for a try on 67 minutes after good work from Conor Trainor.

Pritchard missed the conversion, leaving the sides poised at 20-18, before Mackenzie's try and Pritchard's conversion took the Canucks clear.

Canada had opened the scoring in the 13th-minute when DTH van der Merwe scythed through the Tongan defence and fellow centre Ryan Smith passed to Jebb Sinclair for the second row to crash over, full back James Pritchard adding the extras.

With Canada beginning to exert territorial advantage, Tonga crept offside to allow Pritchard to extend the lead to 10-0 before Piutau's first try pegged them back.

Canada have now won all three RWC matches played between the two.

Canada next take on France on Sunday 4 AM EST - 1 AM PST on TSN.

Scoring

Canada
Tries: Jebb Sinclair, Aaron Carpenter, Phil Mackenzie
Conversions: James Pritchard (2)
Penalties: James Pritchard (2)

Tonga
Tries: Siale Piutau (2)
Con: Kurt Morath (2)
Pens: Kurt Morath (2)