For the second week running a potential match-winning lead disappeared for the One New Zealand Warriors when they had to settle for a 20-20 draw with Wests Tigers in their round four Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) clash at Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney on Sunday.
In round three, their 22-14 halftime lead had evaporated in the second half as the Roosters finished strongly to grab a 34-22 victory.
It was a near-replica against the Tigers as the Warriors put together a hot scoring spurt with 20 points in the space of 19 minutes to hold a 20-4 advantage at the break.
A Jett Cleary bomb was spilled by the Magpies and seized on by the Warriors for centre Jahrome Falemoe-Afamasaga to score in the 16th minute.
Cleary was the provider again minutes later when the Warriors went down a short side, the halfback stabbing a grubber ahead which again wasn’t cleaned up presenting second rower Alvin Chong Nee with a try.
In no time the Warriors had their third try, quick hands enabling Falemoe-Afamasaga to score his second try wide out before it became 20-4 when a break by hooker Makaia Tafua led to a try for right winger Raphael Sio.
Match: Wests Tigers v Warriors
Round 4 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
10th Position
away Team
Warriors
13th Position
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
However, in the second half the points supply dried up while the Tigers scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the term to leave the Warriors only 20-14 ahead.
It settled into a grind for 20 minutes before the Tigers scored and converted to have it all tied up at 20-20.
There it would finish despite a frantic final period leaving the teams to share a point each.
