A hot Melbourne start destroyed the One New Zealand Warriors’ chances of a first win of the season in today’s fifth-round SG Ball Cup (under-19) contest at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe.
Hoping to kick on from last week’s unlucky 26-28 loss to Illawarra, the Warriors were set back on their heels as the Storm crossed for four tries in the opening 16 minutes to take a commanding 22-0 lead en route to an ultimate 38-16 victory.
The Warriors bit into the lead just on halftime when fullback Joseph Ratcliffe, a member of last year’s Harold Matthews Cup premiership-winning team, scored a superb try from long range when he gathered a delicate Maui Winitana-Patelesio chip kick.
And in the opening minutes of the second half a shift right and lovely flick pass from centre Kairus Booth gave winger Connor Bowden yet another try to trim the margin to 10-22.
Match: Warriors v Storm
Round 5 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Storm
Venue: Navigation Home Stadium, Pukekohe
There the comeback was halted as Melbourne hit the Warriors with three more tries before they scored a late try from dummy half through Rico Lemalie to reduce the final margin.
The Warriors travel to Sydney next weekend to fave the Western Suburbs Magpies.
