AND at long last the home nations have something to celebrate as Scotland get off the mark with a thrilling win over Tonga.

Victory must be a sweet tonic for overlooked Huddersfield Giant Danny Brough, whose deadly boot was the difference between the Braveharts and the Pacific Islanders at Workington.

While the arguments may rage over whether Brough was deserving of a berth in Steve McNamara's England outfit, the Scots have gone one better than the official hosts, and surpassed Ireland's mauling by the Fijians and Wales being turned over by the Italians.

(And from a purely personal point of view it was extra sweet to see former Gold Coast Titan Matty Russell, and new Warrington Wolves recruit, bust over for the decisive try at Derwent Park.) Another fervent crowd packed into the Cumbrian outpost to welcome World Cup rugby to town and they were not left disappointed by a ding-dong encounter.

Scotland pulled away with three straight tries after Glen Fisi'ahi crossed for the Tongans early doors.

But this half-time advantage was wiped out fter the break with a blitz of fast-flowing rugby which saw Sika Manu grab a brace and Willie Manu and Nafe Seluini got on the scoresheet.

Russell was on hand though to level the scores up in the closing exchanges, before Brough slotted over the conversion for a famous win, making it 26-24 and mirroring the Bravehearts' 2008 triumph over Fiji.

One of my former newspaper colleagues has been going great guns trying to create the feelgood factor in Workington for the RLWC and this showing will have helped her cause no end.