Clinical Warriors add to Dogs woes

The Warriors have produced a clinical display to put away a woeful Bulldogs side 36-12 in front of 12,012 fans at Mt Smart Stadium.

Canterbury came out of the blocks, like a team with a renewed sense of urgency, using the football like they did in the opening rounds of the Telstra Premiership. Ben Roberts kicked one down the line, for Wright to swoop on and open the scoring, after a missed penalty from Turner.

A freaky bounce, after more expansive play from the Bulldogs brought the reward when Steve Turner crossed in the right corner. He adjusted his radar after his opening miss, to slot this one and make it 12 points to zero early.

The swing had to come and it came as a gale force wind.

Elijah Taylor ran into a big hole to get the Warriors first points, converted by Maloney. It was all Maloney for the second try, taking a Mannering offload to out-sprint the defenders to level the scoreline and that is how they would stay until oranges.

Bulldogs needed to match the intensity from their opening twenty minutes to keep pace with the Warriors growing in confidence. It wasn't to be though, James Maloney took control after halftime, trapping Ben Barba in goal several times to force drop outs.

Hohaia found lazy markers from the play the ball to dive over and give the Warriors the lead, for the first time in the game. Constant errors by the Bulldogs offered opportunities for the home side and Heremaia dummied, went himself to extend their lead.

It was becoming a repeat of previous weeks, with a different coach at helm but the Warriors would continue punishing the Bulldogs for them, Feleti Mateo forcing his way over the stripe then on the fulltime hooter, Aaron Heremaia took an errant pass from Taupau to record his second try.

This win consolidated the Warriors position in the top eight, with a heavy load of away games on their plate for the run home. Canterbury have an injury concern to Kris Keating but more importantly, nothing changed not even an upswing of form with a new coach, they languish in 11th still.

Match Details
New Zealand Warriors 36 defeated Canterbury Bulldogs 12
National Rugby League - Round 19 (Rivalry Round) - Friday July 15, 2011 6:30pm
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium
Referee: Shayne Hayne and Gavin Reynolds
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Steve Chiddy
Crowd: 12,012
Halftime: New Zealand Warriors 12 Canterbury Bulldogs 12

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - James Maloney (1 Try, 6 Conversions)
2 Points - Aaron Heremaia (2 Tries)
1 Point - Shaun Johnson

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (36)
Tries: Lance Hohaia, Feleti Mateo, James Maloney, Aaron Heremaia (2), Elijah Taylor
Conversions: James Maloney (6/6)

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (12)
Tries: Steve Turner, Jonathan Wright
Conversions: Steve Turner (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Steve Turner (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to Mount Smart Stadium, for tonight's vital clash between the Warriors and the Bulldogs. Canterbury will have assistant coach Jim Dymock taking the reins for his match, after the dismissal of Kevin Moore. The Warriors will be looking to consolidate their position in the top eight.
New Zealand have staged a late comeback in the Toyota Cup, to win 22-14 after trailing by 14 early on.
Changes: New Zealand: Jacob Lillyman and Feleti Mateo go to the bench, with Ben Matulino and Elijah Taylor starting. Canterbury: 1-17
1 min: Both sides out on the field and Canterbury kick us off!
2 min: A pretty good opening set from New Zealand, punctuated by the home fans arguing for a penalty, for a Bulldogs player taking out Maloney.
3 min: It's either rocks or diamonds with Manu, this one is rocks, he spills a simple return pass from Locke.
4 min: Warriors looking to race up on the attack but it was too fast, penalty. They deliberate and point to the posts.
5 min: PENALTY GOAL ATTEMPT
Oh dear, they should have taken the tap, Turner gets the kick horribly wrong and misses.
0 all
Jonathan Wright might have scored, after Ben Roberts stabs one down the sideline.
7 min: TRY
A horrible pass to Ben Roberts on last tackle, he dodges a few defenders and stabs it down the sideline for Wright who chases, evades the slipping Tupou to open the scoring. Turner has learnt from the opening shank, he swung it straight over the black dot.
Canterbury Bulldogs 6-0
8 min: It's all Canterbury early, penalty here for a leg pull.
11 min: Warriors go back to basic wet weather footy, kick and chase. They force an error, Kasiano dropping the ball.
After a spread from their own line, Canterbury might have scored again! This time through Turner.
14 min: TRY
Bulldogs are rewarded for their adventure. They gave it to Morris after four or five tackles, he offloads to Wright who is wrapped up. Bulldogs spread it right to Roberts who puts another grubber through and it rebounds into Turner's hands to score. Well, Turner has nailed this one too, straight over.
Canterbury Bulldogs 12-0
19 min: Penalty Warriors, Bulldogs all offside.
20 min: Dropout. Johnson just dribbles one through and Barba goes safety first, booting it out.
Checking if the Warriors have their first try.
22 min: TRY
Good work by the Warriors, sharp pass to Elijah Taylor who hits the hole hard, takes a few over with him to score. Maloney is pin point with his first conversion.
Canterbury Bulldogs 12-6
24 min: Vatuvei charges back at the defensive line and almost breaks through but may of injured himself.
29 min: TRY
The weather improves and so do the Warriors. Mannering bends the line but gets his arm free, offloads to Maloney who has too much speed and dives over to score. Maloney goes everything you can do, I can do better, putting this one over with ease.
12 all
30 min: Johnson launches this high, Barba lets it bounce and is driven over the dead ball line.
31 min: It was building nicely for the Warriors but a forward pass ends that.
33 min: Good work by Halatau, he rushed up on Maloney, forcing that error.
35 min: What a run by Martin Taupau! He swatted defenders like flies but it's undone by a penalty given to Vatuvei.
36 min: New Zealand try the shift to the right but it's spilled by Mannering.
38 min: Bill Tupou runs it back hard, off the kick but he's met by a brick wall named Keating/Eastwood.
40 min: Last minute penalty, for a judo throw by Taupau. From the kick for line, Maloney launches it high but Barba just bats it dead.
41 min: We're back and off running for the second half!
42 min: After a poor opening kick from Roberts, the Warriors march downfield, Maloney stabs one through and Barba is trapped.
45 min: TRY
Wake up Bulldogs! Maloney almost slices through but is dragged down. Hohaia catches some markers being lazy and dives over. Maloney from in front, boots it.
New Zealand Warriors 18-12
46 min: Head clash! but Idris is also put on report for a swinging arm.
47 min: More pressure here when another grubber is picked up by Barba who is kept in goal.
48 min: Moon tries to get it to Vatuvei but Turner is there to take the pass instead.
51 min: Something was building but a shocker of a pass by Barba is forward and goes over the sideline.
52 min: Not wet weather football there, trying to force an offload. Scrum Bulldogs.
57 min: Checking if Aaron Heremaia has scored.
59 min: TRY
A great solo effort from Heremaia there, he throws a dummy and is straight through, has Locke on the inside but doesn't need him, he scores. Another from in front, another successful conversion.
New Zealand Warriors 24-12
61 min: Maloney puts in the perfect bimb, he trapped Barba just in-field and he's forced to run it out, steps and captured.
63 min: TRY
Well construtced from the Warriors, early ball down the right and Mateo is one on one, forces his way over. Maloney keeps his perfect record going for the night, slotting this one.
New Zealand Warriors 30-12
64 min: Desperation stakes by the Bulldogs, try the short kick and it sails over the sideline. Penalty Warriors.
65 min: BANG! Kris Keating puts a good hit on Michael Luck, forcing the ball free.
67 min: Bulldogs fortunate to get a repeat set but it's recovered well by Tupou.
69 min: Great improv by the Warriors there, it got batted back after the kick from Turner.
71 min: More bad news for the Bulldog,s Kris Keating has damaged some ligaments in his elbow and will be out for a while.
73 min: It's just no their night, Canterbury try the run-around but the ball goes forward.
73 min: Warriors try a kick from the scrum but Wright recovers.
75 min: Warriors are turning it on here at the end, they stab it through again, forcing yet another drop out.
76 min: Forward pass kills the play, Bulldogs scrum.
77 min: Scrum penalty to the Bulldogs, they go for the long kick for touch, it's touched.
78 min: Penalty Dogs, crusher tackle.
80 min: It's been a solid effort by the Warriors tonight, they've weathered an early storm and run away with this.
80 min: High tackle by Manu, penalty Bulldogs.
80 min: TRY
Taupau tries to keep it alive for the Bulldogs but his offload finds Heremaia, who is too fast for Halatau and he gets a brace for the night. Maloney makes it 6/6 for the night, with this one.
New Zealand Warriors 36-12