Mate Ma'a Tonga have overcome a slow start to book their spot in the Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals, defeating Wales 32-6 at St Helen's.
A hat-trick of tries to winger Daniel Tupou saw Tonga through to the next round, leading the way as his side scored 32 unanswered points, after Wales took the early lead through Kyle Evans.
After taking 20 minutes to open their account, Tonga didn't look back, once Tupou scored his first, going over on the left flank, after a well-worked team move.
Further first-half efforts to forwards David Fifita and Keaon Koloamatangi gave Tonga a 16-6 lead at the break, which they doubled in the second spell.
Fullback Tesi Niu needed only six minutes of the second half to cross for Tonga's fourth try, as Wales' hopes of their first victory of the tournament vanished.
Tupou had the final say, grabbing Tonga's fifth and sixth tries to complete the scoring, and finishing with a treble, after going scoreless in his side's opening win over Papua New Guinea.
The victory sends Tonga to the top of Group D, with a points differential of +32, while Wales are rooted to the bottom with their differential of -38.
Should Tonga top Group D, they would be on track for an all-Pacific quarter-final against Samoa, who must defeat France in their final pool match on Monday (NZ time).
Cook Islands can overtake Tonga and seal their own quarter-final place, should they defeat Papua New Guinea by 33 points or more at Warrington on Wednesday morning.
Tonga 32 (Tupou 3, Fifita, Koloamatangi, Niu tries; Lolohea 3, Talakai conversions) Wales 6 (Evans try; Fozard conversion)
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