The boys are back in town

On a cold wintry Auckland afternoon in front of the vocal Ericsson faithful, the NZ Warriors have finally shown the form most people expect to see. The move with Stacey Jones back to the halfback role, and Villasanti in the Number 11 jersey certainly paid dividends as the NZ Warriors team played the full 80 minutes against a Raiders side who were just as hungry for the win as the Warriors were.

The game was a full on tussle for the 80 minutes with neither side really having the advantage right throughout the match.

With the score locked at 6 a piece at the break, the game was anyone's for the taking, and it wasn't until the final minute of the game that the winner was decided. Up until then, the Raiders were always dangerous with the ball and in with a good show of breaking away from the Warriors defence.

The two tries to the Warriors in the final few minutes were well deserved and the confidence shown in the side grew as the game went on. A team effort by the Warriors, with any number of players deserving the Man of the Match award.

The win keeping the Warriors off the bottom of the competition ladder and the Raiders dropping their chance of hitting the Top 8 this week.

Ericsson Stadium Referee: Steve Lyons Video Referee: Chris Ward. Touch Judges: Ben Cummins, Pat Reynolds Scorers: WARRIORS 20 Tries: V Anderson, Meli, Hohaia, Villasanti Goals: Faumuina 2/4 defeated RAIDERS 14 Tries: Wiki, Davico Goals: Gafa 3/3

Cold wintry conditions at Auckland, a small crowd in to see the Warriors under their new coach. Jones back at halfback for the NZ Warriors, Villasanti into number 11 position. Davico back in the Raiders side, Hindmarsh on the bench

0 min: Kick off!

4th min: NEWS - Solid start by both sides in windy conditions. Composure shown by both sides, no score so far in the match

8th min: NEWS - A mistake by the Raiders and Villasanti (Warriors) sets sail from his 30 metre line. Jones in support has play 20 metres out from the Warriors tryline. Next set of six and the video ref is used. The Warriors get the no try call after endless replays show the ball was knocked forward by a Warriors hand

12th min: NEWS - The Raiders looked to have scored out wide after some brilliant attacking plays catching the Warriors short out wide. Unfortunately the final pass was a metre forward, called up by the ref. Still no score

14th min: NEWS - A hard tackle on Davico (Raiders) upsets Crocker and both sides get stuck in, both fired up. A penalty to the Raiders is the outcome although the tackle seemed legitimate. Davico leaves the field, Seuseu on report

16th min: NEWS - Faumuina (Warriors) on report, lifting Monaghan over the horizontal in a three man tackle, with Meli lifting between the legs. Very lucky not to have a player sent off. The game is very fiery, great stuff

17th min: TRY - Wiki for Raiders. Great offloading by the Raiders, along with the speed of the ball. Straight down the middle by Wiki after Crocker and Mogg set him up perfectly. Gafa converts from right out in front. Raiders 6-0

23rd min: NEWS - The game opening up by both sides, with the defensive pressure of the sides forces errors. Still a lot of feeling in the match, the ref warning both captains, the next penalty, someone will walk

25th min: TRY - V Anderson for Warriors. Great set up play by the Warriors to have them 20 metres out from the tryline. Jones takes the ball to the line, slips through the gap with Anderson in support. Faumuina with an easy conversion, adds 2 points. 6-6

32nd min: NEWS - The Raiders with more possession are looking settled, the Warriors scrambling defence matching them, a very even contest

36th min: Seuseu (Warriors) penalised for a high sot but not sent off. Woolford (Raiders) instead warned about his swinging arm tackles. Still locked up at 6 all

40th min: NEWS - A knock on by the Warriors from a little kick from Jones to the in goal. Gafa (Raiders) sets off to the other end of the field on the hooter. The ball safely taken by Fa'afili.

HALFTIME: 6-6

43rd min: NEWS - Beetham (Warriors) once again questioning ref Lyons over his calls. The Warriors well and truly inside the ten metres

44th min: PENALTY GOAL. Gafa has no trouble with the kick 35 metres out. Raiders 8-6

49th min: NEWS - A try goes begging for both sides in the space of a minute. The game well and truly at a frantic pace

55th min: NEWS - Anybody's game at this stage with both sides still creating some great options only to have the terrific defence shutting them down. 8-6 to the Raiders

58th min: NEWS - The Warriors very close to scoring, Hohaia stumbling through the gap, even his forward roll with the ball didn't get him through the defence. McLinden (Raiders) breaks away and now it's the Raiders turn on attack

61st min: TRY - Davico for Raiders. A line dropout to set up field position. Drew on the fifth tackle, grubbers the ball in goal. It hits the post and bounces back right into the arms of Davico to score. Gafa ads the 2 points from right out in front. Raiders 14-6

68th min: NEWS - The Raiders with the weight of possession in the last ten minutes, and looking dangerous

70th min: TRY - Meli for Warriors. The metres gained in their set had the Warriors right up to their line on the 5th tackle. Jones spreads the ball wide to Villasanti who flicks the ball to Meli who scores. Faumuina from the sideline, misses the conversion. Raiders 14-10

74th min: TRY - Hohaia for Warriors. The Raiders blow up as Gafa goes down with cramp and the scrum feed goes to the Warriors, for an incorrect play of the ball. Jones runs to the line from the scum base putting Hohaia through the gap to score under the posts. Faumuina adds the extra 2 points. Warriors 16-14

78th min: NEWS - The Warriors turn to blow up at the ref when close to another try, possession is given to the Raiders, a lot of pressure for both sides in the match

79th min: TRY - Villasanti for Warriors. The Warriors yet again hot on attack. The ref gone upstairs as the ball is all over the place in the in goal area. Jones had put a grubber through, Crocker kicks it almost vertical. The end result a try to Villasanti. Faumuina misses the conversion. Warriors 22-14

FULLTIME: Warriors finally back on track with an 80 minute game. The Raiders did well to push them all the way. Final score 20-14

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - S Jones (Warriors) 2 - M Beetham (Warriors) 1 - J Crocker (Raiders) -----------------------------------------