The Junior All Blacks maintained their unbeaten record in the Pacific Nations Cup, setting the seal on their series victory with a 47-25 win over Tonga on Thursday.
Tonga ended the competition winless and in last place, but they put up a fierce fight, going into halftime with a 20-12 lead after an error-prone start by the Juniors.
The New Zealanders went into the final quarter with a slim 26-25 lead but finally got into top gear with three late tries.
Winger Hosea Gear scored the first and last tries for the Juniors, taking his tally for the four Pacific Nations Cup matches to eight, and staking a claim for inclusion in the All Blacks Tri-Nations squad to be named Saturday.
Tonga surged to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, with their forwards winning the turnover battle and the Juniors' performance marred by poor handling and passing.
Outside centre Alipate Fatafehi scored first after the Tongans swooped on a handling error by the Juniors flyhalf Stephen Brett. The Juniors hit back with tries midway through the spell to Gear and inside centre Ryan Crotty, after some valuable lead-up work by Gear.
Flanker Muli Kaufusi scored Tonga's second try just before the break after Fatefehi stole the ball from a breakdown and set up the five pointer which stretched their halftime lead to eight points.
A more settled Juniors team scored tries through winger Rene Ranger and number eight Sione Lauaki in the first 10 minutes of the second spell.
Winger Mateo Malupo hit back for Tonga after 52 minutes to leave his team only one point in arrears but traffic was one way for the Juniors from there on.
The Juniors scored in the last quarter through scrumhalf Alby Mathewson, replacement winger Robbie Fruean and Gear. Brett and replacement Colin Slade slotted three conversions
each, while for Tonga Pierre Hola added 10 points with the boot.
Fiji and Japan play the final Pacific Nations match in Suva on Friday, and a win for the home side would lift them above Samoa into second place.
Scorers:
For Junior All Blacks:
Tries: Hosea Gear 2, Ryan Crotty, Rene Ranger, Sione Lauaki, Alby Mathewson, Robbie Fruean. Cons: Stephen Brett 3, Colin Slade 3
For Tonga:
Tries: Alipate Fatafehi, Muli Kaufusi, Mateo Malupo.
Cons: Pierre Hola 2
Pens: Hola 2
Sapa-AFP
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