Warriors outmuscle Tigers in rainy
affair

Fulltime score: Round 12 New Zealand Warriors 21 v Wests Tigers 4

Match summary: The New Zealand Warriors have recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season, defeating the Wests Tigers by 21-4 in a tough struggle at Ericsson Stadium.

The match was heavily affected by a downpour midway through the first half which must have been threatening to halt the game at one point. The Warriors were never headed on the scoreboard though, reversing the round 5 clash between the two teams where the Tigers travelled to Jade Stadium in Christchurch and did a number on their opponents.

The game got off to a good start with a bit of free-flowing action resulting in an early try to Dean Byrne of the Warriors who scooted down the touch line to post a try in the corner. A few minutes later, Lance Hohaia took the score out to 6-nil with a penalty goal before the Tigers hit back shortly after with a solid try to winger Pat Richards follwing some in-goal madness from the Warriors.

Late in the half Clinton Toopi scored the first of his two tries with a powerful and damaging run close to the line. Stacey Jones then extended the lead as the halftime hooter sounded with a clever field goal.

In the second half of the game there was plenty of one-out footy which has to be expected with the ground in the condition it was. It turned into a good old-fashioned game of rugby league with an absorbing forward contest and the players tending to concentrate more on holding the ball than passing.

Toopi scored another determined try in the 63rd minute to put the game beyond doubt before Richard Villasanti added the icing on the cake in the final minute, collecting a clever chip over the top by Stacey Jones.

Serious injury concern for Steve Price has marred the victory however, with the big prop limping from the field after contesting a Scott Prince cross-field kick. Preliminary reports suggested ligament damage to his knee which may require surgery.

For the Tigers, Hodgson played strongly as usual with Prince and Marshall going well also. Pat Richards had a mixed game, scoring his club?s only try but being involved in various mistakes throughout the match. But the conditions conspired against the Tigers with the Warriors always going to be hard to stop with a handy lead once the rain started to fall.

Scorers: NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 21 Tries: Toopi 2, Byrne, Villasanti Goals: Hohaia 1/3, Jones 1/4 Field goals: Jones 1 WESTS TIGERS 4 Tries: Richards Goals: Hodgson 0/1

Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Referee: Shayne Hayne Halftime: Warriors 11-4

Live commentary:

There's a fair Kiwi contingent in the Tigers line-up with Whatuira, Marshall, Harrison and Halatau all returning to their country of birth.

And we get underway through the boot of Ropati for the Warriors.

3 min: Warriors trap Pat Richards in goal to force a drop out and their first attacking opportunity of the day.

8 min: TRY - Warriors. Todd Byrne scores right in the corner for the home team after great lead-up work by Toopi. Conversion unsuccessful. Warriors 4 Tigers 0.

10 min: PENALTY GOAL - Warriors. Hohaia boots a goal following an indiscretion from the Tigers. Warriors 6 Tigers 0.

17 min: TRY - Tigers. An unbelievable passage of play, with the Tigers chipping in goal only for Ropati to cover the ball excellently and get out. But as brilliantly as he did that, he then throws an intercept pass to a waiting Tigers player five metres from his own line. The visitors then work the ball for a few plays before Prince finds Richards out wide and he scores. The rain begins to tumble heavily as Hodgson lines up the conversion from the sideline, which he misses. Warriors 6 Tigers 4.

24 min: Weather update. There is very little visibility at the ground right now. The rain is absolutely pelting down and the players must be doing it realy tough.

25 min: Unsuccessful penalty goal attempt from Hohaia after a penalty to the Warriors. You can't really blame him given the conditions. No change in score. Warriors 6 Tigers 4

28 min: Play update Gibbs belts Jones after a clearing kick from the halfback and causes a penalty. Fien prompty looses the ball and the Tigers are back in possession.

33 min: TRY - Warriors. Clinton Toopi brushes through some average defence close to the line to post a valuable four-pointer in atrocious conditions. Jones lines this one up and has no success. Warrios 10 Tigers 4.

37 min: Play update Pat Richards gets a hand on a Jones kick and hands a scrum feed to the Warriors who immediately go on the attack late in the first half.

40 min: FIELD GOAL - Warriors. Following yet another handling error from the Tigers, Jones steadies himself and whacks over a field goal just inside 30m out. Warriors go to the break with the ascendency. Warriors 11 Tigers 4.

Half time:

A tough struggle on here at Ericcson Stadium in wet and windy Auckland. The game has reverted to an older style league match with very little ball movement and heavy stuff straight up the middle of the park.

Both teams are suffering from the effects of a heavy downpour midway through the first half. The Warriors seemed to cope better with the weather, as you'd expect from the New Zealanders, and have carved out a 7-point halftime lead.

I can't see it being anything but another half of grinding footy with either side needing to make the most of their opportunities when they present themselves.

And we're underway in the second half!

42 min: Play update Tigers trapped in goal again after a crafty Jones grubber kick.

48 min: Play update Plenty of one-out stuff as both teams look to minimise their errors. The flanks on either side of the ground resemble more of a lake with the amount of rain that has fallen. The ground itself seems to be holding up well though with it's efficient drainage system.

54 min: Play update Steve Price (Warriors) injured whilst contesting a cross-field kick by Scott Prince (Tigers). He has limped from the field.

60 min: Injury update Preliminary reports suggesting Steve Price has a ligament tear in his knee following his attempted charge-down on a Scott Prince kick. Prince appeared to fall on Price after his legs were cut-out from underneath him in mid-air. Price may require surgery.

63 min: TRY - Warriors. Clinton Toopi once again powers through the defensive line and scores in the corner for New Zealand. Magnificent effort in such testing conditions and he looks to have won the game for the Warriors. Jones flays the ball wide from the sideline. Warriors 15 Tigers 4.

67 min: PENALTY GOAL - Warriors. The Tigers are penalised for holding down and Jones steps up and kicks an easy one effectively putting the game beyond doubt. Warriors 17 Tigers 4.

74 min: Play update Tigers have forced the ball in goal again and given up the ghost. Plenty of credit to the Warriors though who didn't back down one bit all day.

80 min: TRY - Warriors. Villasanti puts the icing on the cake for the home side after following through on a little Stace Jones chip over the top. He scores out wide to cap of a rugged performance from New Zealand. The conversion from Jones was unsuccessful. Warriors 21 Tigers 4.

Full time:

The Warriors have put back-to-back wins together here today at Ericcson stadium in a tough effort.

In a game which was heavily affected by the weather, New Zealand gritted their teeth and dug in whilst the Tigers crumbled both in attack and defence.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - C Toopi (Warriors) 2 - S Jones (Warriors) 1 - J Ropati (Warriors) -----------------------------------------