HMC Match Report: Back-to-back wins sealed

After sealing their maiden Harold Matthews Cup victory last weekend, the One New Zealand Warriors followed up with a second straight win when they accounted for the Balmain Tigers 16-4 in their fifth-round clash in Pukekohe today.

Battling wet conditions, the under-17 side provided an ideal start to the first of five consecutive Harold Matthews Cup-SG Ball Cup doubleheaders at Navigation Homes Stadium.

While the Tigers came into the contest without a win in the competition, they provided a stern test.

After winger Kairus Booth dotted down after 10 minutes, the Tigers responded with a try of their won which saw the sides go to the break locked at 4-4.

The One New Zealand Warriors were much improved in the second term as they shut out Balmain and put together two converted tries through last week’s match-winning hero Lennox Tuiloma - his third try in two games - and second rower Militoni Sikuvea.

The 12-point win lifts the Warriors to six points, level with the sixth-placed Central Coast Roosters but ninth on points for and against.

Next Sunday they host the 13th-placed Illawarra Steelers (10.00am kick-off), who have just one win from four starts. They went down 12-30 to the Penrith Panthers yesterday.

Match details:
Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe

One New Zealand Warriors 16 (Kairus Booth, Lennox Tuiloma, Militoni Sikuvea tries; Kairus Booth 2 conversions).
Balmain Tigers 4 (Filipe Hualulu try).
Halftime: 4-4.
One New Zealand Warriors | Joseph Ratcliffe; Ezekiel Davidson-Faaiuaso, Jeremiah Lemana, Siale Pahulu, Kairus Booth; Boston Krone (co-captain), Deshontayne Te Wao; Houma Fotu, Kaawyn Patterson (co-captain), Ambrose Puluno; Dezman Laban, Militoni Sikuvea; Lennox Tuiloma. Interchange: Zion Sitani, Romana Whitiora, Gordon Afoa, Hudsyn Frost. Coach | TJ Ashford.