Hard-luck defeats have peppered the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 2018 campaign and they had another one on Saturday when they went down 6-12 to Canterbury-Bankstown in their 20th-round Jersey Flegg Cup clash in Sydney.
After falling 0-12 down at the break, the gallant Vodafone Junior Warriors bit back early in the second spell with a converted Temple Kalepo try to be just six points behind.
Try as they might, though, they just couldn’t follow it up although they had the satisfaction of denying the Bulldogs any more points.
The result left the Vodafone Junior Warriors in 10th place on 16 points, now six points off eighth spot.
It was the latest close defeat in a season full of them. After starting out with an eight-point loss in the opening round, the Vodafone Junior Warriors have had a 16-17 loss to Penrith, a 10-16 reverse against Cronulla, a 10-14 loss to St George Illawarra and a 10-18 defeat by Parramatta.
MATCH DETAILS
At Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 12 (Blake Clayton, Zac Hetherington tries; Brandon Wakeham 2 conversions).
Vodafone Junior Warriors 6 (Temple Kalepo try; Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard conversion).
Halftime: 12-0 Bulldogs.
Referee: Cameron Turner.
Vodafone Junior Warriors | Kayal Iro; Harley Maynard, Antonio Poua, Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard, Lewis Soosemea; Paul Turner, Eiden Ackland; Lotu Inisi, Taane Paki, Wesley Veikoso; Kakoi Togoiu, Tyler Slade (c); Phillip Makatoa. Interchange: Edward Kosi, Junior Pua, Soane Hufanga, Temple Kalepo.
