A season-opening win eluded the One New Zealand Warriors when they were edged out 24-18 by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in Sunday’s Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) contest at Bruce Pulman Park in Takanini.
After taking the early lead, falling behind and then reclaiming the advantage 18-16 early in the second half they were unable to sustain pressure before the Sea Eagles went 22-18 ahead and then sealed their six-point win with a late penalty.
Fielding 12 newcomers around five survivors from last season’s premiership-winning squad, one of the new faces – hooker Kayce Perese-Sukroo – lit the game up with a stunning solo try just nine minutes in.
Picking the ball up 49 metres out, he exploded out of dummy half, bamboozling the markers, bursting past two defenders and then burning off two more on an angled run to score.
Three tries conceded in the space of five minutes changed the complexion of the game as the Sea Eagles went over wide out on their left side, cut through up the middle and then found joy on their left again to snatch a 16-6 advantage.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sea Eagles
Venue: Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini
Right on halftime the Warriors reduced the damage as interchange dummy half Agelu Malaesilia served up a short ball close to Manly’s line for front rower Hemiata Togia to drive over.
A 12-16 halftime deficit was converted into an 18-16 lead five minutes into the second half.
After skipper Tusa Fanolua was stopped short, Malaesilia burrowed over from dummy half with standoff Keanu Simpson providing his third conversion.
The Warriors had the platform to work their way to victory but couldn’t create cohesion in their first competitive outing of the season, turning possession over too many times.
They’re back at the same venue next Sunday to take on the Canberra Raiders, who started their season with a 24-10 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday.
