MOUNTIES v VODAFONE WARRIORS
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Sydney
3.00pm, Saturday, August 02
Referee: Chris Treneman
The Vodafone Warriors will seek to extend their winning run to four when they tangle with the Mounties in today’s 21st-round New South Wales Cup match at Aubrey Keech Reserve in Sydney today (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
In their last three outings they’ve beaten highly-ranked Wentworthville 30-6, Wyong 6-4 and Manly 32-18 to hold firm in fifth spot on the ladder.
They face a challenging assignment today, though, against a Mounties outfit which has also been performing well to hold onto sixth place just a point behind. They were certainly impressive when the two sides met at Eden Park in May, the visitors cruising to a 42-22 win.
As the Vodafone Warriors seek some redress for that result today they’ve been forced to take a changed line-up into the contest.
Out of the originally named backline are winger David Fusitu’a, who is still having issues with a groin injury, and standoff Carlos Tuimavave (on bereavement leave for his grandmother’s funeral).
Vodafone Junior Warriors centre Ken Maumalo comes onto the wing for Fusitu’a; he served a one-game suspension after being sent off in his NSW Cup debut against Wyong and was initially slated to turn out for the NYC side tomorrow. Coming into the halves is Jonathan Carl from Point Chevalier’s Fox Memorial side in the Auckland club competition; he played one NSW Cup match earlier in the campaign.
There’s also a change in the forwards with second rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner ruled out after being named earlier in the week while big Sam Lousi, selected on the bench, is also out of the squad with a hamstring injury.
Upu Poching will now start in the second row while Vodafone Junior Warriors prop Sam Lisone comes onto the bench for his fifth NSW Cup appearance this year. The 18th man is Lisone’s NYC team-mate Toafofoa Sipley; the pair will travel to Canberra after the match to join the Vodafone Junior Warriors for their critical clash against the Raiders.
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 STEVE WAETFORD (c)
2 NGATAUA HUKATAI
3 JARROD TUA
4 DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
20 KEN MAUMALO
7 SAM COOK
23 JONATHAN CARL
8 AGNATIUS PAASI
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 CHARLIE-PAUL GUBB
25 UPU POCHING
12 JAYSON BUKUYA
13 JOHN PALAVI
Interchange:
14 ABRAHAM PAPALII
16 DAVID BHANA
17 MICHAEL SIO
21 SAM LISONE
COACH: ROHAN SMITH
COVERAGE:
Radio coverage on 2GLF FM 89.3 (link available via www.893fm.com.au).
