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A vital 20-8 bounce-back win over Melbourne has moved the One New Zealand Warriors back into the top six in the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) competition – but they had to work hard for the success at Pukekohe’s Navigation Homes Stadium.
Coming off a 16-22 loss to Illawarra, the home side found itself in a grinding battle throughout against a game Melbourne team which played well above its lowly position on the table after four straight defeats.
Indeed, the Storm gave plenty of cheek forcing the Warriors to battle throughout a tight first half which finished with the two sides locked at 8-8.
The undoubted bright spot was a try-scoring double for winger Jacksyn Hill, a Rotorua Boys’ High School product with a rugby union background.
After the Storm had gone ahead 4-0 after nine minutes, Hill scored twice in the space of five minutes as the right edge clicked before the visitors levelled up right on halftime.
Match: Warriors v Storm
Round 5 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Storm
Venue: Navigation Home Stadium, Pukekohe
The Warriors muscled up defensively in the second half to deny the Storm any more points while interchange players Satali Asolelei Fretton and Luke Lemalu added tries, the first soon after halftime and the second just on fulltime.
The result left the One New Zealand Warriors level with four other teams sharing second spot on eight points but sixth spot on points for and against.
After the comforts of home, they’re back on the road next week taking on Western Suburbs, the side they beat in last year’s grand final.
