The Vodafone Junior Warriors ran out of time chasing their second straight win when they faced competition leader Cronulla in today's eighth-round Jersey Flegg Cup win at a saturated QBE North Harbour Stadium.
Backing up from their 38-30 win over St George Illawarra last week, the Vodafone Junior Warriors and the Sharks had to contend with extreme conditions as Auckland was drenched by rain.
The two teams were locked at 4-4 as they slogged away on the drenched surface, second rower Havi Tupouniua splashing down for the Vodafone Junior Warriors' first try.
The unbeaten Sharks upped the ante with back-to-back tries to take a 16-4 advantage.
Centre Tom Ale's late try and Dakohta Taimani's conversion cut the lead to six but there wasn't enough time for the home side to extract any reward from the contest.
MATCH DETAILS
At QBE North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Vodafone Junior Warriors 10 (Havi Tupouniua, Tom Ale tries tries; Dakohta Taimani conversion).
Cronulla Sharks 16 (Bronson Xerri, Harrison Smith, Monty Raper tries; Braydon Trindall 2 conversions).
Halftime: 0-0.
Vodafone Junior Warriors | Kayal Iro; Uenuku Malesala, Tom Ale, Carlos Henry, Elijah Sufia; Dakohta Taimani, Paul Turner; Soane Hufanga (c), Lewis Sio, Wesley Veikoso; Sione Tuipulotu, Havi Tupouniua; Preston Riki. Interchange: Patrick Elia, Brody Tamarua, Eiden Ackland, Tayhler Paora.
