The Vodafone Warriors start their New South Wales Cup campaign against Newcastle at Hunter Stadium today.
First-year coach Stacey Jones made several changes to the side originally named earlier in the week.
FIRST HALF
1'00" | Vodafone Warriors have first possession but set ends with last tackle kick charged down and the ball handed over.
2'00" | The charge down proved costly. The Knights swept onto attack, poked a kick into the in-goal area which the Vodafone Warriors couldn't clean up. Knights centre Josh Allison swooped on the loose ball to score, Danny Kerr converting.
Newcastle 6, Vodafone Warriors 0
12'00" | Still 6-0 but the Vodafone Warriors have shaped well a couple of times on attack. They also defended brilliantly on their own line to stop Newcastle going further ahead.
25'00 | Vodafone Warriors bite into the contest. Api Pewhairangi goes close, plays it and the Vodafone Warriors go right, James Bell powering over for a well-deserved try. Pewhairangi converts to lock it up.
Newcastle 6, Vodafone Warriors 6
34'00" | Pressure created and it pays with the Vodafone Warriors setting up a last tackle play to their left, shifting the ball through Pewhairangi and the impressive Viliami Kaveinga for Matt Allwood to score, stepping off his left to get across. Pewhairangi converts to put the Vodafone Warriors in front.
Newcastle 6, Vodafone Warriors 12
After the lapse in the opening moments the Vodafone Warriors recovered well to first draw level through James Bell and then go ahead through Matt Allwood.
Halftime | Newcastle 6, Vodafone Warriors 12
SECOND HALF
47'00" | The Vodafone Warriors couldn't defend repeats sets, halfback Danny Kerr dancing through and converting to tie the game up again.
Newcastle 12, Vodafone Warriors 12
52'00" | Flow of penalties leads to a heavy possession advantage for the Knights so far this half. The home side turns that into two tries in the space of a few minutes, the second to Jake Finn. Kerr converts it and the Knights are back in front.
Newcastle 18, Vodafone Warriors 12
58'00" | So close. James Bell lunges at the line but loses the ball in contact looking to get it across the line.
68'00" | TRY to the deserving Viliami Kaveinga wide out. Good hand from Pewhairangi as well. He can't convert but there's just two points in it heading towards the last 10 minutes.
Newcastle 18, Vodafone Warriors 16
70'00" | Great chase and defence forces Newcastle back for goal-line drop out.
71'00" | TRY. From the repeat set, the Vodafone Warriors set up for their right edge, Sam Cook feeding Sione Lousi for a great try. Pewhairangi conversion is wide.
Newcastle 18, Vodafone Warriors 20
76'00" | TRY. Pewhairangi over for a great try but suffers a shoulder injury in the process. Has to leave the field. Sam Cook converts to give the Vodafone Warriors an eight-point lead.
Newcastle 18, Vodafone Warriors 26
FULLTIME | NEWCASTLE 18, VODAFONE WARRIORS 26
Great win coming back after conceding two tries in the opening minutes of the second half.
