Illawarra ended the Vodafone Warriors’ New South Wales Cup finals campaign with a 29-12 win in tonight’s sudden-death play-off at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
After eliminating the Mounties last week, the Vodafone Warriors were unable to repeat the feat as the Cutters made most of the play in the second half to surge to a 17-point win.
The sides had been locked at 6-6 at halftime after Sam Lousi held off multiple defenders to plant the ball for the opening try before Illawarra responded.
After conceding the first try in the second half the Vodafone Warriors regained the lead immediately with an outstanding long-range try.
Michael Ki popped a great off load to John Palavi who delivered another superb off load to Carlos Tuimavave on his left, Tuimavave sending Raymond Faitala-Mariner on a long run to the line. Sam Cook’s second conversion had his side out to a 12-10 lead.
It didn’t last long, though, as the Cutters came up with four unanswered tries to finish the contest convincingly.
Match details | Leichhardt Oval, Balmain
(4) Illawarra Cutters 29 (Shannon Wakeman 2, Tyron Cranston, Peter Mata’utia, Charly Runciman, Will Matthews tries; Sam Duggan 2 conversions, field goal).
(8) Vodafone Warriors 12 (Sam Lousi, Raymond Faitala-Mariner tries; Sam Cook 2 conversions).
Halftime: 6-6.
Referee: Adam Cassidy.
Vodafone Warriors: Steve Waetford (c); Tangi Ropati, Dominique Peyroux, Michael Sio, Jarrod Tua; Carlos Tuimavave, Sam Cook; Agnatius Paasi, Siliva Havili, Sam Lousi; Raymond Faitala-Mariner, John Palavi; David Bhana. Interchange: Albert Vete, Abraham Papalii, Michael Ki, Daniel Palavi.
