The Vodafone Warriors were unable to build on a promising start against Mounties as they slumped to a 22-42 loss to the Mounties in today's ninth-round New South Wales Cup encounter at Eden Park.
The home side, which had a host of changes to the line-up before kickoff, lacked cohesion and was ultimately undone by a more physical Mounties outfit.
The Vodafone Warriors were out of the blocks early, though, taking a 12-0 lead but this was negated before the break by the visitors, who then came back onto the park in the second half and ran away with the contest.
Solomone Kata collected the day's first try nine minutes in after grounding his own deft grubber to post his first try in NSW Cup football.
Skipper Steve Waetford then extended the lead after receiving a rifle of a pass from Tuimoala Lolohea that split the defense.
The Mounties shifted gears at this point and the Vodafone Warriors were unable to match their intensity.
Mounties hooker Matt McIlwrick helped cut the lead in half when he crashed over beside the posts in the 25th minute and then Mosese Pangai, who was a constant menace on the left edge all afternoon, forced his away through. Mitch Cornish added the extras to level the scores.
The away side continued in this vein in the second half and quickly took the ascendancy.
Sami Sauiluma, who has eight NRL appearances for the Raiders, proved too much to handle for the Vodafone Warriors' defence as he scored four times in the space of 22 minutes.
His try tally stands at 14 for the year and today marked the second time he has scored four so far in this campaign.
Mounties skipper Jake Foster also added to the score-line, crossing the line for the 11th time this season.
The visitors' final try of the day was their finest as winger Jeremy Hawkins reeled in a perfectly weighted high-ball from Mitch Cornish in the 70th minute.
The home side found their feet again in the closing moments with Lolohea scoring twice but the game was far beyond repair at this point having leaked 42 unanswered points.
Rohan Smith's side is now reeling after two heavy losses and will be looking to stave off a third straight loss when it faces Manly at Brookvale Oval next week.
Match details:
At Eden Park, Auckland
Mounties 42 (Sami Sauiluma 4, Jake Foster, Jeremy Hawkins, Matt McIlwrick, Mosese Pangai tries; Mitch Cornish 5 conversions).
Vodafone Warriors 22 (Tuimoala Lolohea 2, Solomone Kata, Steve Waetford; Tuimoala Lolohea 3 conversions ).
Halftime: 12-12 Vodafone Warriors
Referee: Chris Treneman
Vodafone Warriors: Steve Waetford (c); Christian Mika, Solomone Kata, Carlos Tuimavave, Jarrod Tua; Tuimoala Lolohea, Mason Lino; Upu Poching, Siliva Havili, Charlie Gubb; Agnatius Paasi, Raymond Faitala Mariner; John Palavi. Interchange: Abraham Papalii, Albert Vete, Michael Sio, Sam Cook.
