Just as they were eyeing a fourth straight win, the One New Zealand Warriors faltered to concede three tries in the final 11 minutes to lose 30-36 to the Wests Tigers in Sunday’s round four Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) clash at Pulman Park in Takanini.
It was the second time in less than 48 hours that the Tigers had spoilt the party after first ending the NRL team’s perfect start to the season with a 32-14 victory at Go Media Stadium on Friday night.
The Jersey Flegg contest had an identical start to the NRL one as the Warriors bolted to a 10-0 lead with two tries in the opening eight minutes.
Then became a classic back and forth battle until the home side scored three unanswered tries to convert a 16-20 deficit into a 30-20 lead with 18 minutes to play.
Instead of holding onto the momentum to close the match out, the Warriors were unable to stem the Tigers’ storming finish as they scored converted tries in the 69th and 72nd minutes to snatch a 32-30 lead before capping it with their seventh try of the match right on fulltime.
Match: Warriors v Wests Tigers
Round 4 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
2nd Position
Venue: Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini
The home side couldn’t have started any better when left winger Harry Tauafiafi caught the Tigers out on a short side raid, exploding out of dummy half 30 metres out and racing away to score in the corner.
Six minutes later it was a solo job again, the Tigers losing possession 30 metres out, right winger Brandon Norris grabbing the loose ball and scooting away past two defenders before running the ball around close to the posts.
Just as quickly the pendulum swung with the visitors over three times in 14 minutes to lead 14-10 but the One New Zealand Warriors wrestled the lead back with a stunning long range try nine minutes from the break.
Moving the ball to the left edge from 90 metres out, Nganatatafu Vake broke 40 metres downfield before finding centre Sio Kali inside to finish it (although he hobbled towards the line with a leg injury).
The Tigers had a try ruled out just before halftime enabling the Warriors to take a 16-14 advantage into the second half.
Five minutes into the second spell the Tigers were 20-14 in front but then came the Warriors’ response as Maui Winitana-Patelesio stole across from dummy half in the 52nd minute, Tauafiafi went over for his second three minutes later off a brilliant Jeremiah Lemana pass and second rower Kahu Capper kept the roll going.
That would be it, though, as the Tigers turned the match on its head with their match-winning finish.
The loss has pushed the Warriors down to third on the ladder with the Tigers moving up to second. They face the Sharks at newly named Ocean Protect Stadium (Shark Park) next Sunday.
