Another fast start was followed by a scoreless second half as the One New Zealand Warriors fell to a frustrating 22-28 loss to Cronulla Sutherland in their sixth-round Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) encounter at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere today.
After scoring four tries in the opening 23 minutes, the Warriors had a 22-4 lead which they took into halftime.
It should have been a strong platform to go on with for a second straight win following last Saturday’s victory over the Silktails in Lautoka.
Instead what unfolded was similar to what happened against the Roosters and the Wests Tigers in earlier games. Against the Roosters, the Warriors led 22-14 at halftime only to lose 22-34 and they had a 20-4 lead over the Tigers before their scoring stalled in the second half en route to a 20-20 draw.
While they conceded a third-minute try against the Sharks, the Warriors then called the tune for the next 20 minutes as they put on four tries.
Match: Warriors v Sharks
Round 6 -
home Team
Warriors
12th Position
away Team
Sharks
6th Position
Venue: The Trusts Arena, Auckland
First hooker Makaia Tafua ducked over from dummy half before a short side raid and some superb off loading ended in a try wide out for Jackson Kite.
With Jett Cleary converting both tries the Warriors were 12-4 up and soon 18-4 when middle forward Gordon Afoa drove over from close range off Tafua’s dummy half pass.
Next up on the last tackle, Cleary dummied and stepped his way to a brilliant individual try to continue the onslaught.
That would be it, though, as the Sharks stemmed the tide and then set about reeling in the home side in the second half.
A spurt of three tries in 11 minutes had the score locked up at 22-22 to set up a tense final 20 minutes.
It was the Sharks who came up with the critical moment, scoring seven minutes from fulltime and then holding out the home side for a six-point win to place them fourth on the ladder.
Sitting 11th on three points, the Warriors are home again next Saturday when they face the Dragons in the first of three games at Go Media Stadium.
