(IRB.COM) Beaten finalists in 2007 Tau’uta Reds are still searching for their first victory in this season’s IRB Pacific Rugby Cup after they were defeated 21-11 by Tautahi Gold at Teufaiva Stadium.

Tautahi Gold welcomed back Nili Latu, Tonga captain in Rugby World Cup 2007, as they bounced back from their opening round defeat to Fiji Warriors.

It took only three minutes for Tautahi Gold to silence the home crowd with full back Setaleki Lu'au touching down to give his side a 5-0 lead. Fly half and captain Fangatapu Apikotota added the conversion before his Reds counterpart Vaea Poteki kicked a penalty to bring the score back to 7-3 in favour of the visitors.

Poteki added another penalty after half an hour, before Apikotota kicked two late first-half penalties to send Tautahi Gold into the break 13-7 ahead.

Reds Sione Masima’s yellow card midway through the second half proved pivotal as first Apikotota with a penalty, and then Samisoni Pone with a try, stretched Tautahi Gold’s lead to 21-6 whilst the Reds were down to 14 players.

After a raft of substitutions Reds’ Saia Taufalele scored a try late on, but it was little more than a consolation score.

Tautahi Gold play Savai’I Samoa in their next match whilst Tau’uta Reds will be looking for their first win of the 2008 tournament, against Fiji Barbarians at Lawaqa Park.

Tau’uta Reds: 1, Siosateki, Mata’u, 2, ‘Etimoni, Poteki, 3, Siosaia, Halanukonuka, 4, ‘Isileli, Fine, 5, Sione, Timani, 6, ‘Atunaisa, Sikalu, 7, Tavalea, Takai, 8, Siope, Kapeli, 9, ‘Enele, Taufa, 10, Vaea, Poteki, 11, Ualosi, Kailea, 12, Sione, Masima, 13, ‘Ofa, Takai, 14, Sione, Tu’akoi, 15, Viliami, Mavae. Replacements: 16, Te’ekafa, Taniela, 17, Hu’akau, ‘Atelea, 18, Taufalele, Saia, 19, Ram, Jack, 20, Makoni, 21, Halapio, Kitione, 22, Sete, Lemisio.

Penalties: Vaea Poteki (2)
Yellow card: Sione Masima
Red card: Atunaisa Sikalu

Tautahi Gold: 1, Makoni, Finau, 2, Feki, Moala, 3, Soane, Ledger, 4, Samiu, Ika, 5, Taukolo, Tu’akoi, 6, Josateki, Veikune, 7, Nili, Latu, 8, ‘Aleki, Taka, 9, Soane, Havea, 10, Fangatapu, ‘Apikotoa, 11, Vea, Paunga, 12, ‘Isileli. M., Tupou, 13, Heimuli, Pangai, 14, Samisoni, Pone, 15, Sitaleki, Lu’au. Replacements: 16, Va’inga, Fangupo, 17, Sione, Maama, 18, Viliami, Kupu, 19, Petelo, Pifeleti, 20, Siope, Poutele, 21, Leakona, Tovi, 22, Semisi, Motu’apuaka.

Tries: Setaleki Lu'au, Samisoni Pone
Conversion: Fangatapu Apikotota (1)
Penalties: Fangatapu Apikotota (3)