StephenP
ArnoldWarriors survive late Tigers surge
June 29th 2008 05:54
The New Zealand Warriors have held on to record a heart stopping 28-26 victory over a flat Wests Tigers outfit at a packed Leichhardt Oval this afternoon.
With ten seconds remaining, giant winger Taniela Tuiaki crashed over for his third try of the match, with Tigers skipper Brett Hodgson failing with his sideline conversion attempt after the full-time siren which could have sent the match into golden point extra-time.
After a brutal opening, the Warriors posted first points thanks to a probing dart from hooker Ian Henderson, with the lively number nine taking advantage of some sloppy Tigers marker defence to scoot over for an early 6-0 lead.
The visitor’s controversially moved further ahead in the 23rd minute through a Sonny Fai four-pointer; the teenage sensation accepting a highly dubious Grant Rovelli pass to scoot thirty metres down the left-hand touchline to open up an 10-0 lead.
New Zealand further capitalised on their handy field position when Nathan Fien surged through two Tigers goal-line defenders to crash over, with Lance Hohaia’s second conversion pushing the energetic Warriors out to a 16-0 advantage on the half hour.
But the brilliance of Tigers five-eight Benji Marshall finally sparked Wests into action; the livewire pivot mesmerising a number of Warriors defenders on a forty metre charge, before unleashing one of his brilliant flick passes onto a flying Taniela Tuiaki to dot down.
A wonderful sideline conversion from Wests skipper Brett Hodgson closed the gap to ten, with the enigmatic Warriors holding a surprise 16-6 lead at the break.
The Tigers were rewarded for a much more enterprising start to the second half with a spectacular try to hooker Robbie Farah, with Farah accepting the second of two miraculous passes to crash over in the 50th minute.
Another brilliant sideline conversion from Hodgson meant it was game on at 16-12.
Concerted pressure from the home team allowed them to draw level five minutes later thanks to a try to Chris Lawrence, the flashy centre receiving a great pass from Hodgson to carry three Warriors over the line for a crucial try.
But not to be outdone, the Warriors produced their own piece of brilliance from inside their own half, with a great flick pass from Simon Mannering allowing debutant winger Malo Solomona to charge downfield before offloading to Hohaia to complete a scintillating Warriors try.
New Zealand looked to be home and hosed when Sam Rapira crashed over off the back of another Tigers handling error, with Michael Witt’s second conversion in four minutes putting the Warriors up 28-16 inside the final ten minutes.
Tuiaki’s second try with just three minutes remaining ensured a grandstand finish, and when the giant winger crashed over for his hat trick with six seconds remaining, it was all down to Hodgson’s conversion attempt to decide the fate of the game.
New Zealand Warriors 28
Tries: Ian Henderson, Sonny Fai, Nathan Fien, Lance Hohaia, Sam Rapira
Goals: Lance Hohaia 2, Michael Witt 2
defeated
Wests Tigers 26
Tries: Taniela Tuiaki 3, Robbie Farah, Chris Lawrence
Goals: Brett Hodgson 3
At Leichhardt Oval
Referee – Steve Lyons
In todays other match, the Parramatta Eels have held off a late surge from a second string Melbourne Storm outfit to record a narrow 24-22 victory at Parramatta Stadium.
Parramatta Eels 24
Tries: Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams, Joel Reddy, Krisnan Inu
Goals: Luke Burt 4
defeated
Melbourne Storm 22
Tries: Sika Manu 2, Joseph Tomane, Cooper Cronk
Goals: Steve Turner 2, Cooper Cronk
At Parramatta Stadium
With ten seconds remaining, giant winger Taniela Tuiaki crashed over for his third try of the match, with Tigers skipper Brett Hodgson failing with his sideline conversion attempt after the full-time siren which could have sent the match into golden point extra-time.
After a brutal opening, the Warriors posted first points thanks to a probing dart from hooker Ian Henderson, with the lively number nine taking advantage of some sloppy Tigers marker defence to scoot over for an early 6-0 lead.
The visitor’s controversially moved further ahead in the 23rd minute through a Sonny Fai four-pointer; the teenage sensation accepting a highly dubious Grant Rovelli pass to scoot thirty metres down the left-hand touchline to open up an 10-0 lead.
New Zealand further capitalised on their handy field position when Nathan Fien surged through two Tigers goal-line defenders to crash over, with Lance Hohaia’s second conversion pushing the energetic Warriors out to a 16-0 advantage on the half hour.
But the brilliance of Tigers five-eight Benji Marshall finally sparked Wests into action; the livewire pivot mesmerising a number of Warriors defenders on a forty metre charge, before unleashing one of his brilliant flick passes onto a flying Taniela Tuiaki to dot down.
A wonderful sideline conversion from Wests skipper Brett Hodgson closed the gap to ten, with the enigmatic Warriors holding a surprise 16-6 lead at the break.
The Tigers were rewarded for a much more enterprising start to the second half with a spectacular try to hooker Robbie Farah, with Farah accepting the second of two miraculous passes to crash over in the 50th minute.
Another brilliant sideline conversion from Hodgson meant it was game on at 16-12.
Concerted pressure from the home team allowed them to draw level five minutes later thanks to a try to Chris Lawrence, the flashy centre receiving a great pass from Hodgson to carry three Warriors over the line for a crucial try.
But not to be outdone, the Warriors produced their own piece of brilliance from inside their own half, with a great flick pass from Simon Mannering allowing debutant winger Malo Solomona to charge downfield before offloading to Hohaia to complete a scintillating Warriors try.
New Zealand looked to be home and hosed when Sam Rapira crashed over off the back of another Tigers handling error, with Michael Witt’s second conversion in four minutes putting the Warriors up 28-16 inside the final ten minutes.
Tuiaki’s second try with just three minutes remaining ensured a grandstand finish, and when the giant winger crashed over for his hat trick with six seconds remaining, it was all down to Hodgson’s conversion attempt to decide the fate of the game.
New Zealand Warriors 28
Tries: Ian Henderson, Sonny Fai, Nathan Fien, Lance Hohaia, Sam Rapira
Goals: Lance Hohaia 2, Michael Witt 2
defeated
Wests Tigers 26
Tries: Taniela Tuiaki 3, Robbie Farah, Chris Lawrence
Goals: Brett Hodgson 3
At Leichhardt Oval
Referee – Steve Lyons
In todays other match, the Parramatta Eels have held off a late surge from a second string Melbourne Storm outfit to record a narrow 24-22 victory at Parramatta Stadium.
Parramatta Eels 24
Tries: Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams, Joel Reddy, Krisnan Inu
Goals: Luke Burt 4
defeated
Melbourne Storm 22
Tries: Sika Manu 2, Joseph Tomane, Cooper Cronk
Goals: Steve Turner 2, Cooper Cronk
At Parramatta Stadium
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