Round 22
Warriors 12 d. Sharks 10

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Guttenbeil outstanding in Warriors victory
Sun August 6, 2006
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Veteran back rower Awen Guttenbeil sealed his testimonial game with a monumental man of the match display in the Vodafone Warriors' NRL win against Cronulla at a sodden Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night.

Auckland had been drenched by relentless rain throughout the day and conditions deteriorated during the match but Guttenbeil (30) would not be denied on one of the biggest occasions of his career.

The match had been given extra edge before kick-off when the club's original captain Dean Bell - home on holiday from England - spoke to the team and gave out the specially-made one-off jerseys to each of the players.

For much of the season Guttenbeil has been named each week in the starting line-up but on match day head coach Ivan Cleary has strategically switched him to the bench. The pattern changed this time.

Guttenbeil had been unable to train all week, a calf injury threatening to prevent him from playing. He later confessed he wouldn't have played had it not been his testimonial match. However, leading the team onto the field in his 166th match, he proceeded to play the full 80 minutes.

The Vodafone Warriors again began well, as they had against Penrith before falling away.

In the eighth minute halfback Grant Rovelli stepped his way through Cronulla's line from close range for his fourth try of the year, Tony Martin converting for a 6-0 lead.

Rovelli's opposite Brett Kimmorley replied in kind for the Sharks 11 minutes later, Luke Covell's conversion evening things up.

In a half when completion rates were impressive despite atrocious conditions, the score remained locked at halftime.

Martin edged the home side ahead 8-6 with a simple penalty in the 50th minute in a contest that was always destined to be the ultimate arm wrestle.

Cronulla maintained pressure to put Covell across out wide in the 58th minute, Covell narrowly missing the wide-angled conversion but the Sharks led 10-8 in a sapping battle.

The lead lasted only 10 minutes when the Vodafone Warriors thundered back with the telling play of the night.

Rovelli pushed a perfectly-waited angled grubber kick through the Cronulla line, back rower Micheal Luck timing his run superbly to pounce for a highly significant four pointer. It not only put the Vodafone Warriors ahead but it was also Luck's first try for the club, one he had been increasingly anxious to score.

For the last 12 minutes the home side had its defence examined but managed to repel all Cronulla had to offer.

There was also a rarity this season as the Vodafone Warriors benefited from a 4-1 penalty count in the second half.

The result was vital for the Vodafone Warriors as they seek to finish their season positively, ending a three-game losing run.

It was a disastrous night for the Sharks, their sixth successive loss and one that has them barely holding on to a place in the top eight.

Among the individuals none was better than Guttenbeil who led the way by carrying the ball 24 times, making 226 metres and completing a staggering 49 tackles.

Report source: www.warriors.co.nz

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