Ireland A 48 Tonga 19:Ireland A may not have had it all their own way but ultimately stamped their authority on proceedings in appalling conditions in Belfast.

Conceding three tries to unheralded opponents won’t have pleased coach Michael Bradley but there were plenty of positives to warm the crowd on a bitterly cold night.

Connacht prop Brett Wilkinson opening the scoring from close range within three minutes and two Ian Humphreys penalties helped stretch that advantage.

Tonga fought their way back into the contest with a Vungakoto Lilo try midway through the half before further tries from Andrew Trimble and Darren Cave restored the Irish second string’s lead.

Tonga had the final say of the first half, however, with centre Sukanaivalu Hufanga scoring their second try.

Neil Best scored the home side’s fourth try on 53 minutes with Gavin Duffy adding a fifth shortly afterwards.

Cave scored his second try on 64 minutes and Ian Keatley edged Ireland towards the half century mark three minutes from time.