Round 8
New Zealand Warriors 24 l. Canberra Raiders 30

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

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

Canberra ends Junior Warriors unbeaten run
Mon May 5, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Second-placed Canberra ended the Vodafone Junior Warriors' five-match unbeaten run in the National Youth Competition.

Coming into the eighth-round clash at Mt Smart Stadium, the fifth-placed Vodafone Junior Warriors had put together a run of three wins and two draws in recent weeks.

And after early tries to Leeson Ah Mau and Ben Matulino had given them a 12-4 lead, they were well-placed to extend the sequence in atrocious conditions.

But the Raiders put together a run of three tries to lead 22-12 at halftime and two more soon after the break to leap to a commanding 30-12 advantage.

When captain Daniel O'Regan scored in the 63rd minute the home side had a glimmer of hope but had to wait until the 78th minute before prop Ah Mau scored his second try.

Match details:
At Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland:
Vodafone Junior Warriors 24 (Leeson Ah Mau 2, Ben Matulino, Daniel O'Regan tries; Howie Matthews 3 conversions; Francis Leger conversion).
Canberra Raiders 30 (Steve Naughton, Michael Picker, Andrew Edwards, Jarrad Kennedy, Josh Dugan, Brock Dunn tries; Josh Dugan 3 conversions).
Halftime: 22-12 Raiders.
Referee: Leon Williamson.

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz


Junior Warriors face tough test from one of NYC's top sides
Fri May 2, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Russell Packer's promotion to the club's NRL side and injuries have impacted on the Vodafone Junior Warriors as they strive to stretch their winning run to six matches against the NYC's second-best side Canberra at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.

With Packer (18) set to become the 141st NRL player in the Vodafone Warriors' history, his regular NYC propping partner Leeson Ah Mau will be joined by regular interchange front rower Mataupu Poching in the starting line-up in the early game on Sunday.

"This is a great opportunity for Russell," said Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Tony Iro.

"He's been doing a terrific job for us. The thing that stands out is his consistency."

Like their NRL counterparts, the Vodafone Junior Warriors also have a growing casualty list.

Second rower Sonny Fai (shoulder) and winger Kevin Locke (knee) were both injured in last Sunday's 36-28 victory over Gold Coast, a win that lifted the Vodafone Junior Warriors to fifth in the competition after a win-win-draw-draw-win run in their last five outings.

Among the others out of contention through injury are winger Thomas Ah Van - who scored six tries in his first four games - back rowers Scott Jones and Steve Rapira as well as prop Daniel Palavi.

With Ah Van and Locke out, utility Nafe Seluini and Bill Tupou are on the wings against the Raiders. Utility Elijah Taylor is in the second row for Fai with prop Eddy Purcell and hooker Jason Tou recalled to the bench.

Packer's elevation to the Vodafone Warriors' bench provides the NYC team with its second NRL graduate in the first seven games of the season; Fai was called up for his first-grade debut after only one appearance at NYC level.

Packer, who is leading the Dally M NYC Player of the Year voting, has made more runs than any other player in the competition and has gained an average of more than 180 metres a game in the first seven rounds. He has been one of the busiest defenders as well, making 47 tackles in one match and 39 in another.

With both Steve Price and now Ruben Wiki sidelined, Packer was this week selected on the bench for the Vodafone Warriors' NRL clash against the Raiders.

In their first seven matches the Vodafone Junior Warriors have developed into one of the competition's top attacking sides but they face a difficult assignment against the Raiders, who have lost just once to sit only one point behind competition leaders the Parramatta Eels.

The Vodafone Junior Warriors have so far used 29 players with Ah Mau, halfback Jody Henry, second rower Sione Lousi, Packer and Taylor the only ones to appear in all seven matches.

TOYOTA CUP
New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Sunday, May 4
1.45pm (NZ), 11:45am (AEST)

Warriors (NYC):
1 Howie Matthews
2 Bill Tupou
3 Francis Leger
4 Rusty Bristow
5 Nafe Seluini
6 Isaac John
7 Jody Henry
8 Mataupu Poching
9 Arron Pawley
10 Leeson Ah Mau
11 Elijah Taylor
12 Ben Matulino
13 Daniel O'Regan (c)

Interchange:
14 Alehana Mara
15 Eddy Purcell
16 Sione Lousi
17 Jason Tou

Coach: Tony Iro

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

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