Round 7
Gold Coast Titans 28 l. New Zealand Warriors 36

2008 Toyota National Youth Competition Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > Second Grade Competition: Toyota National Youth Competition

Junior Warriors now unbeaten in five matches
Mon April 28, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

After losing their first two matches of the year, the Vodafone Junior Warriors have gone unbeaten in their last five outings in the new National Youth Competition.

They extended the run with a 36-28 win over the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday, taking them to eight points after three wins and two draws in the last five weeks.

After conceding an 11th minute try, the Vodafone Junior Warriors responded with a 16th minute unconverted touchdown by winger Kevin Locke to trail 4-6.

But once they took the lead through the first of centre Francis Leger's two tries just four minutes later, they were never headed.

Tries to centre Rusty Bristow and halfback Jody Henry enabled them to take an 18-12 edge into the halftime break and, while the Titans closed to 16-18 early in the second period, the Vodafone Junior Warriors managed to created a bit of distance on the scoreboard from then on.

Second rower Sonny Fai, back in the NYC after playing five consecutive NRL matches, backed up a long break from winger Bill Tupou to score and Leger's second try 13 minutes from time took the visiting side out to a 30-16 advantage.

A runaway second try for Gold Coast's Wellington-born winger Jordan Rapana in the 73rd minute created some anxiety as the margin was trimmed to 22-30. Only a week earlier North Queensland had recovered from a 6-24 deficit to draw 24-24 with three tries in the last eight minutes.

But there was to be no repeat this week as hooker Arron Pawley effectively sealed victory with a try next to the posts.

Howie Matthews, who had missed his first three wide-angled conversion attempts, ended the match with his fourth conversion and the Vodafone Warriors could look ahead to returning home to face the well-performed Canberra Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium next Sunday.

Match details:

At Skilled Park, Robina:
Gold Coast Titans 28 (Jordan Rapana 2, Shannon Walker 2, Kayne Lawton tries; Kayne Lawton 4 conversions).
Vodafone Junior Warriors 36 (Francis Leger 2, Kevin Locke, Rusty Bristow, Jody Henry, Sonny Fai, Arron Pawley tries; Howie Matthews 4 conversions).
Halftime: 18-12 Vodafone Junior Warriors.
Referee: Matt Cecchin.

Report sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

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