Four tries in a 13-minute burst hinted at a breakthrough win for the One New Zealand Warriors but the Sydney Roosters put an end to their hopes coming through to take a 34-22 win in Saturday’s third-round Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) encounter at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe.
After opening indifferently to concede two tries in the opening five minutes, the Warriors lit up with a 22-point spree between the ninth and 23rd minutes.
It was sparked as halfback Jett Cleary and standoff Luke Hanson linked on the left, Hanson firing a superb long ball for winger Raphael Sio to go over wide out for the first of his two tries. Cleary converted superbly from the touchline.
In the 13th minute the Warriors carried the ball impressively from inside their half, loose forward Jason Salalilio driving and bumping his way through defenders on a 20-metre charge. Next tackle prop Harry Durbin powered ahead another 12 metres before fullback Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo came in at first receiver to put Hanson through a hole 35 metres out. Hanson slipped en route to the line but regathered his feet and scrambled his way over to score.
Match: Warriors v Roosters
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
14th Position
away Team
Roosters
9th Position
Venue: Navigation Home Stadium, Pukekohe
With Cleary’s conversion it was 12-10 to the Warriors and then 16-10 minutes later when Hanson punched through a grubber towards the left-hand corner, Sio showing great speed to race forward to gather and score centimetres in from the touchline.
In the 23rd minute the fourth try came following pressure on the Roosters’ line with hooker Jaydee Auloa forcing his way over.
Playing up tempo the Warriors were suddenly 22-10 ahead but couldn’t build on it.
After conceding a try just before halftime, there were unable to check the Roosters from there on.
Four minutes into the second half, the Roosters had cut the margin 20-22 with a converted try before the match settled into a 20-minute grind.
In the 64th minute the Roosters broke the Warriors’ resolve to go ahead 26-22 and then add a penalty to stretch to 28-22.
Into the last 10 minutes the Warriors couldn’t find a way back into the contest with the Roosters adding their sixth try for a 12-point win.
The Warriors travel to Sydney to face the Wests Tigers next Sunday.
