PRC- Barbarians notch up first win.

Rusiate Matai scored two late tries to give Fiji Barbarians a first win of the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2009 as the visitors to the Teufaiva Stadium in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa ran out 26-15 winners over the Tau'uta Reds.

The Barbarians - Fiji's Under 20 side who are using the competition to prepare for the IRB TOSHIBA Junior World Championship in Japan next month - had seen their advantage cut to just one point before the full back's brace of unconverted tries.

Twenty-one minutes had passed before scrum half Kolinio Vunaki scored the first points of the match with a penalty for the Barbarians, but within minutes the home side hit back with full back Foukimoana Katoa's try, converted by Vaea Poktei.

It was the Barbarians who went in leading at half time though after hooker Waisea Daveta's late try was converted by Vunaki to make it 10-7 in their favour. The visitors would also start the second half with a man advantage after Siosefa Tu'akoi's yellow card.

Must win game

The Barbarians failed to add to their tally while Tu'akoi was off the field, but within minutes of his return his teammate Sione Timani headed to the sin-bin and this time they did with two more Vunaki penalties.

After a raft of replacements, fly half Poteki boosted Tau'uta Reds' hopes of a victory with a penalty before scoring a try on the hour mark. However his missed conversion left the Reds trailing by a point at 16-15.

Those hopes of a home win were ended by Matai's late double as the Barbarians banished the disappointment of heavy defeats by Fiji Warriors (47-8), Uplou Samoa (49-13) and a narrow loss against Savai'i Samoa 23-17 with a first victory in 2009.