StephenP
ArnoldYoung Warriors entertain in Gold Coast heat
April 27th 2008 03:54
The New Zealand Warriors have consolidated their spot in the National Youth Cup top eight, scoring an entertaining 36-28 victory over the Gold Coast Titans in Sunday’s Toyota Under 20 clash at Skilled Park.
A three try burst midway through the first half by a powerful Warriors outfit broke the spirit of the junior Titans, with strong performances from halfback Jody Henry and centre Francis Leger handing the Warriors just their third victory of the season.
The Titans were overwhelmed thanks to a dominant Warriors possession advantage in the sweltering Gold Coast conditions, and could have found themselves on the end of a bigger scoreline had it not been for the brilliance and speed of backs Shannon Walker and Jordan Rapana.
After firing a few warning shots across the Warriors bow, the Titans finally converted pressure into points thanks to a 10th minute converted try to hooker Kayne Lawton, with the crafty number nine slicing through three Warriors defenders to dart over under the posts to open the scoring.
New Zealand’s responded with their first four-pointer off the back of a break from nippy half from Henry, with winger Kevin Locke touching down wide out to make it 6-4 after 16 minutes.
The Warriors made it back-to-back four pointers minutes later thanks to the sublime skills of backrower Sonny Fai; centre Francis Leger barging over off a neat short ball from the exciting Warriors forward to extend their lead to 8-6 after 19 minutes.
New Zealand’s dominance in possession in the steamy conditions allowed the Warriors to post their third try in the 23rd minute; this time centre Rusty Bristow crashing over off the back of some nice interchange of passes to push the visitor’s out to a handy 12-6 advantage.
With the game opening up thanks to the stifling heat, the Titans were able to level the scores on the half hour thanks to a determined four-pointer to Gold Coast winger Jordan Rapana.
Receiving a floating pass from half Matt Nuttal on the ten meter line, Rapana displayed some dazzling footwork and sheer determination to crash through four New Zealand defenders to score a well deserved try.
Some expansive play on the stroke of half-time allowed the Warriors to edge back into the lead, with Warriors winger Locke laying on a neat centerfield pass to allow the nippy Henry to dart over, pushing New Zealand ahead 18-12 at the main break.
The dynamic speed of Shannon Walker enabled the Gold Coast to post first points after the resumption, with the electric Titans custodian leaving three Warriors defenders clutching at air as he flashed over for a 45th minute four-pointer.
NRL rookie Fai brought the growing Robina crowd to life when he finished off an exhilarating sixty metre bust form Warriors forward Bill Tupou to dot down, with Matthews second goal pushing the visitor’s out to a 24-16 lead after 50 minutes.
A scintillating turn of speed from Warriors centre Leger allowed him to cross for his second try and warp up the match for the visitor’s, with Howie’s 67th minute conversion making it 30-16.
And despite New Zealand completely dominating proceedings, it took a piece of individual brilliance from Titans winger Rapana to hand the home side an outside chance, with the lanky Gold Coast flanker racing 100 metres after defusing a Warriors bomb, to make it 30-22 inside the final ten minutes.
But New Zealand hooker Aaron Pawley put paid to any hopes of a Titans fightback when he barged over for a 76th minute try, with the blinding speed of the Gold Coast’s Walker allowing him to score a double to finish proceedings.
New Zealand Warriors 36
Tries: Francis Leger 2, Kevin Locke, Rusty Bristow, Jody Henry, Sonny Fai, Aaron Pawley
Goals: Howie Matthews 4
Defeated
Gold Coast Titans 28
Tries: Jordan Rapana 2, Shannon Waker 2, Kayne Lawton
Goals: Kayne Lawton 3, Cody Nelson 1
At Skilled Park
Referee – Matt Cecchin
A three try burst midway through the first half by a powerful Warriors outfit broke the spirit of the junior Titans, with strong performances from halfback Jody Henry and centre Francis Leger handing the Warriors just their third victory of the season.
The Titans were overwhelmed thanks to a dominant Warriors possession advantage in the sweltering Gold Coast conditions, and could have found themselves on the end of a bigger scoreline had it not been for the brilliance and speed of backs Shannon Walker and Jordan Rapana.
After firing a few warning shots across the Warriors bow, the Titans finally converted pressure into points thanks to a 10th minute converted try to hooker Kayne Lawton, with the crafty number nine slicing through three Warriors defenders to dart over under the posts to open the scoring.
New Zealand’s responded with their first four-pointer off the back of a break from nippy half from Henry, with winger Kevin Locke touching down wide out to make it 6-4 after 16 minutes.
The Warriors made it back-to-back four pointers minutes later thanks to the sublime skills of backrower Sonny Fai; centre Francis Leger barging over off a neat short ball from the exciting Warriors forward to extend their lead to 8-6 after 19 minutes.
New Zealand’s dominance in possession in the steamy conditions allowed the Warriors to post their third try in the 23rd minute; this time centre Rusty Bristow crashing over off the back of some nice interchange of passes to push the visitor’s out to a handy 12-6 advantage.
With the game opening up thanks to the stifling heat, the Titans were able to level the scores on the half hour thanks to a determined four-pointer to Gold Coast winger Jordan Rapana.
Receiving a floating pass from half Matt Nuttal on the ten meter line, Rapana displayed some dazzling footwork and sheer determination to crash through four New Zealand defenders to score a well deserved try.
Some expansive play on the stroke of half-time allowed the Warriors to edge back into the lead, with Warriors winger Locke laying on a neat centerfield pass to allow the nippy Henry to dart over, pushing New Zealand ahead 18-12 at the main break.
The dynamic speed of Shannon Walker enabled the Gold Coast to post first points after the resumption, with the electric Titans custodian leaving three Warriors defenders clutching at air as he flashed over for a 45th minute four-pointer.
NRL rookie Fai brought the growing Robina crowd to life when he finished off an exhilarating sixty metre bust form Warriors forward Bill Tupou to dot down, with Matthews second goal pushing the visitor’s out to a 24-16 lead after 50 minutes.
A scintillating turn of speed from Warriors centre Leger allowed him to cross for his second try and warp up the match for the visitor’s, with Howie’s 67th minute conversion making it 30-16.
And despite New Zealand completely dominating proceedings, it took a piece of individual brilliance from Titans winger Rapana to hand the home side an outside chance, with the lanky Gold Coast flanker racing 100 metres after defusing a Warriors bomb, to make it 30-22 inside the final ten minutes.
But New Zealand hooker Aaron Pawley put paid to any hopes of a Titans fightback when he barged over for a 76th minute try, with the blinding speed of the Gold Coast’s Walker allowing him to score a double to finish proceedings.
New Zealand Warriors 36
Tries: Francis Leger 2, Kevin Locke, Rusty Bristow, Jody Henry, Sonny Fai, Aaron Pawley
Goals: Howie Matthews 4
Defeated
Gold Coast Titans 28
Tries: Jordan Rapana 2, Shannon Waker 2, Kayne Lawton
Goals: Kayne Lawton 3, Cody Nelson 1
At Skilled Park
Referee – Matt Cecchin
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