St George Illawarra ended the One New Zealand Warriors’ record winning streak and put their minor premiership celebrations on hold after a 14-14 draw in today’s round 22 New South Wales Cup clash in stormy conditions at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
The Warriors went into the contest knowing victory – their 15th on end in a remarkable run – would have clinched the club’s first-ever NSW Cup minor premiership with four rounds to play.
They didn’t want for late opportunities to secure the success they wanted as they controlled field position in a bid to break the deadlock.
They hammered the Dragons’ line but couldn’t break through while Jett Cleary saw a penalty from 30 metres out pushed wide by the strong wind and then had a field goal attempt charged down.
The net effect of the result is that the Warriors now sit on 41 points and the Dragons on 34 knowing victory over the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium next Saturday will settle the issue.
Match: Dragons v Warriors
Round 22 -
home Team
Dragons
2nd Position
away Team
Warriors
1st Position
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
While their winning sequence has ended at 14 – the best by any Warriors side in any grade – they remain unbeaten in 15 games since their only loss of the season to Newtown.
Sadly winger Edward Kosi’s hat-trick went unrewarded in terms of the ultimate outcome.
After the Warriors had fallen 0-8 behind after 13 minutes, Kosi’s first try came in the 24th minute. Cleary took on the line but, despite the attention of three defenders, flicked out an off load to fullback Geronimo Doyle and he put the winger over in the right-hand corner.
Cleary converted superbly from the touchline and seven minutes later Kosi powered over from dummy half for his second try to put the Warriors 10-8 ahead at halftime.
Straight after halftime the Dragons took a 14-10 lead with a converted try before the Warriors drew level with Kosi’s third. It came after the home side lost possession 20 metres out from their line, centre Morgan Harper skirting wide and giving his winger all the room he needed.
Cleary couldn’t convert kicking into the teeth of the wind leaving the teams locked up 14-14, a score-line the teams couldn’t alter over the last 20 minutes.
