North Sydney has pushed the One New Zealand Warriors off the top of the New South Wales Cup table after a convincing 30-12 win in Saturday’s 10th-round match at North Sydney Oval.
After a run of four straight wins over Newcastle, the Sea Eagles, Parramatta and the Roosters, the One New Zealand Warriors were hoping to add the Bears after losing to them 12-20 in the third round.
The start wasn’t encouraging as they conceded two tries on either flank in the opening 17 minutes scored by Junior Pauga and William Fakatoumafi, who both came through the Warriors’ system.
A 0-10 deficit became 0-14 after 23 minutes before the One New Zealand Warriors bit back into the contest with a try to centre Rocco Berry in his first game back from an injury lay-off.
With Ronald Volkman converting they were 6-14 behind approaching halftime only to concede another try – a second for Pauga – in the 39th minute to go to the break 6-18 behind.
Just three minutes into the second half the Warriors were right back into it, Berry with his second and Volkman converting to trim the margin to 12-18.
There is stayed for the next 20 minutes until the Bears stretched to 24-12 with 17 minutes to go and then added a sixth try six minutes from fulltime.
Match details
North Sydney Oval, Sydney
North Sydney Bears 30 (Junior Pauga 2, Toa Mata’afa 2, William Fakatoumafi, Fletcher Baker tries; Kieran Hayman 2 conversions; Jesse Marschke conversion).
One New Zealand Warriors 12 (Rocco Berry 2 tries tries; Ronald Volkman 2 conversions).
Halftime: 18-6 Bears.
One New Zealand Warriors | Ben Farr; Moala Graham-Taufa, Rocco Berry, Ali Leiataua, Viliami Vailea; Eiden Ackland, Ronald Volkman; Zyon Maiu’u, Paul Roache, James Gavet; Kalani Going, Maia Sands; Michael Sio (c). Interchange: Sanele Aukusitino, Leka Halasima, Nick Halalilo, Isaiah Vagana.
