Another tough day for the Vodafone Junior Warriors as they went down 20-36 to Melbourne in today's eighth-round NYC clash at Sunshine Coast Stadium at Kawana Waters.
The Storm scored four tries to one to take an 18-4 lead into halftime, wing Lewis Soosemea scoring the Vodafone Junior Warriors' only points of the first 40 minutes just before halftime.
They built on that late effort by opening the scoring in the second half, Soosemea over again and Kane Telea converting to cut the margin to 10-18.
The revival was shortlived, though, as Melbourne then piled on four tries within 14 minutes to bolt to a 36-10 lead after 66 minutes.
Not for the first time this season, the Vodafone Junior Warriors reacted by finishing the match positively as prop Kenese Kenese and Telea both went over inside the last 10 minutes to reduce the margin.
Next weekend they're back on home turf for the first time since April 9 when they take on the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, April 30.
MATCH DETAILS
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana Waters
Melbourne Storm 36 (Jacob Elmore 2, Jacob Tonge 2, Dale Madden, Cory Parker, Jesse Arthars, Scott Drinkwater tries; Jesse Arthars conversion; Scott Drinkwater conversion).
Vodafone Junior Warriors 20 (Lewis Soosemea 2, Kane Telea, Kenese Kenese tries; Kane Telea 2 conversions).
Halftime: 18-4 Storm.
Vodafone Junior Warriors | Lee Turner; Lewis Soosemea, Melino Fineanganofo, Kane Telea, Mat Faitotoa; Paul Turner, Chanel Harris-Tavita; Kenese Kenese, Erin Clark, Chris Sio; Jerome Mamea, Joe Vuna; Isaiah Papali'i (c). Interchange: Eiden Ackland, Troy Pulupaki, Shane Hannam, Auzzie Tuwhangai.
