Warriors overcome Storm despite
penalty try

Fulltime score: Round 14 New Zealand Warriors 24 Melbourne Storm 16

Match summary:

The New Zealand Warriors have taken the points at Ericsson Stadium against the Melbourne Storm by 24-16. It was a match punctuated by a penalty try and a first half blitz from the Warriors, who despite conceding the first try, laid on four of their own to take a 20-4 half time lead.

Todd Byrne, who has been in terrific form recently, scored a try in each half with Ropati, Meli and Paleaaesina also submitting their names in the try-scorers column, with the latter pulling off a huge effort from a tap to barge over just before half time.

In the second half, the Storm began a revival, piling on 14 quick points to test the Warriors who looked like they might roll over. A sensational incident in the 46th minute saw the first penalty try in the NRL since the 1999 Grand Final, ironically scored by the Melbourne Storm. With the Storm pressuring the Warriors line, Matt Orford slipped a kick in goal and Cooper Cronk gave chase. Two Warriors defenders in Ropati and Byrne rushed to cover the ball, but Byrne who had misjudged the ball?s bounce decided to take Cronk out of the action with a shove in the back, grassing any chance of a Storm try.

Referee Jason Robinson referred the decision upstairs as replay after replay went across the big screen before the video ref awarded a penalty try. This was the start of a comeback by the visitors, with Matt Geyer grabbing his second in the 53rd minute and a penalty to the Storm with 20 to go set up a potentially great finish.

But the Warriors dug deep to hold them out, with Byrne?s try in the 71st minute sealing the victory and a much needed one at that, allowing the New Zealand side to climb to 10th spot on the ladder and they now prepare to take on the Eels next week just down the road in Waikato Stadium. The Storm remain in 6th position and will fight it out with Penrith at Olympic Park next week.

Scorers: NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS Tries: Byrne 2, Ropati, Meli, Paleaaesina Goals: Jones 2/5 MELBOURNE STORM Tries: Geyer 2, Cronk Goals: Orford 2/4

Ericsson Stadium Referee: Jason Robinson Crowd: 7,898 Half time: Warriors 20-4.

Live commentary:

Both teams as per the program. Apparently it's the ref's birthday today, so let's hope he keeps the whistle out of his mouth. Conditions are a little slippery and the Storm line-up in their predominantly white uniform.

And we're underway through the Warriors!

3 min: The Storm are showing some inventive play first up, inside balls and good backing up, but solid defence from the Warriors hold them out.

7 min: Some mixed signs here. Despite the Warriors looking like they've really turned up today courtesy of some heavy hitting and enthusiastic play, it's the Storm who have broken them twice down the left flank. The visitors are lacking finishing skills however, with grubber kicks on the last failing to find the mark.

10 min: Alex Chan (Storm) has made his way to the sideline with an limp on his brow the size of a golf ball. It looks a bit nasty, but it won't keep him off for the rest of the game.

12 min: TRY - Storm. The visitors open up their account with Orford cleverly grubbering in-goal for Geyer who jumps on it out wide. Smart play from the Storm. Orford misses the conversion and the score is: Storm 4 Warriors 0.

20 min: A quarter of the game gone and the Warriors look to be settling in. The Storm are also in good touch, with Orford's kicking game on song.

25 min: TRY - Warriors. The home side is on the board courtesy of a Geyer fumble as he was trying to clean up a kick around his try line and Jerome Ropati pounces on the loose ball to score. Jones converts and the Warriors take a 6-4 lead over the Storm.

28 min: TRY - Warriors. A sweeping backline move sees Francis Meli score in the corner. Geyer having a bitter sweet game over there. Jones misses a difficult attempt and it 10-4 in favour of the Warriors.

33 min: TRY - Warriors. 'Skinny' Byrne scores off another grubber by the Warriors, who look to be getting a real grip in the game. Jones converts and the Warriors lead 16-4.

38 min: TRY - Warriors. Iafeta Paleaaesina barges his way through some soft defence from a tap and score the Warriors fourth try of the day. They now look well on top. Jones misses the conversion and the Warriors lead by 20-4.

40 min: Warriors nearly put another one on them just before halftime, but a sloppy play the ball cruels their chances.

Half time: The Warriors have looked good all day here at Ericsson Stadium, showing plenty of starch defence and good ball movement despite some greasy conditions. The Storm have been rattled by the big Warriors pack, but you can't write them off just yet despite a good, solid lead from the home team.

The Storm restart us in the second half!

46 min: PENALTY TRY - Storm. Byrne pushes Cooper Cronk off the ball in-goal and earns the opposition a penalty try. Not as sensational as '99 though. Orford converts from in front and the Warriors lead is now reduced to 20-10.

53 min: TRY - Storm. Geyer makes up for past indiscretions with a determined try from close range. Orford fails from out wide and the Warriors now lead 20-14 with the Storm having their tails up.

59 min: PENALTY GOAL - Storm. Incessant back-chatting from Nathan Fien has resulted in a penalty to the Storm, who chop the lead back to four with Orford easily kicking the goal. Warriors 20 Storm 16.

65 min: NEWS - Crowd announced as 7,898 which is a very poor effort from the Kiwis considering their side has been travelling not that bad of late.

69 min: NO TRY - Warriors. Toopi fails to ground the ball cleanly after a big mid-field break by Jones took the home side into attacking territory.

71 min: TRY - Warriors. Todd Byrne picks up his second of the game after Jones nudges a pin-point kick across the field into his flying arms. Storm are out on their feet now. Jones misses from out wide. Warriors lead 24-16 and look good.

Full time: And the Warriors run out winners by 24-16. A second half surge by the Storm has fallen short and the home team come away with a solid win against some quality opposition.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - S Jones (Warriors) 2 - T Byrne (Warriors) 1 - M Geyer (Storm) -----------------------------------------