Warriors run rampant on erratic Raiders in Auckland

THE Warriors have put the rest of the top eight on notice with a stunning second half performance to defeat the Raiders 29-10 in front of a 14731 crowd in Auckland.

It was all the Warriors early in the first half as they dominated possession and field position; however the home side failed to capitalise during their first few visits to the Raiders' 20 meters.

The Warriors received their first pay off for their hard work in the 12th minute when Manu Vatavei scored in the corner.

Shaun Berrigan was over for the Warriors second in the next set following a good left side break by Manu Vatavei and a pinpoint kick by James Maloney.

The Warriors looked to have the game in control, but a good break by Josh Dugan halfway through the first 40 was to be an early turning point for the Raiders.

The Raiders received a repeat set after the Warriors conceded a penalty in their own half, a cut out pass by Josh Dugan found Daniel Vidot who scored.

Both sides struggled to execute their plays over the next passage of play, the scoreboard attendant was finally put to work again two minutes out from half time when Jarrod Crocker scored of a Josh McCrone grubber. Crocker converted the try to give the Raiders a two-point lead.

The halftime break appeared to have gotten the best of both teams failed to complete their first set of the second 40.

But a clever strip by Kevin Locke in the 43rd minute, following an error by his side in the Raiders' half put the home side on the attack.

James Maloney put in neat grubber for Sam Rapira to score and hand the lead back to the home side. Maloney added the extras to extend the Warriors lead to four.

The Warriors were over again only five minutes later when Joel Moon dodged the Canberra defence to score in the corner.

It was all Maloney in the 56th minute when he crossed for the Warriors' fifth try of the game. He added the extras to put his side 14-points ahead.

The Raiders dominated possession over the next 20 minutes of the match however strong defence by the Warriors and poor execution for the Raiders kept David Furner's side scoreless in the second.

Points finally came again three minutes out from the full-time, but it was the home side again with Bill Tupou scoring courtesy of another beautiful kick by Maloney. Maloney's conversion was unsuccessful again.

The Warriors were not done yet however, some strong running from their forward and back put them right on the attack in the final minute enabling Maloney to kick a field goal on full-time.

It is the fourth straight victory for Ivan Cleary's side who look poised for a strong finals campaign. 

Match Details
New Zealand Warriors 29 defeated Canberra Raiders 10
National Rugby League - Round 21 - Sunday July 31, 2011 12:00pm
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium
Referee: Matt Ceccin and Gerard Sutton
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Jeff Younis and Henry Perenara
Crowd: 0
Halftime: New Zealand Warriors 8 Canberra Raiders 10

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - James Maloney (1 Try, 2 Conversions)
2 Points - Kevin Locke
1 Point - Manu Vatuvei (1 Try)

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (29)
Tries: Shaun Berrigan, Manu Vatuvei, Sam Rapira, Joel Moon, James Maloney, Bill Tupou
Field Goals: James Maloney (1/1)
Conversions: James Maloney (2/6)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (10)
Tries: Jarrod Croker, Daniel Vidot
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Afternoon NRL fans and welcome to Mt Smart Stadium for this afternoon's match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Canberra Raiders.
We have beautiful weather in Auckland at the moment for what should be an exciting clash between these two sides. For the home side, a win today will help them cement their spot in the top 8 whereas a loss could see them slip from sixth to eighth at the end of the round.
As for the Raiders, they should be riding high after their upset win over last year's premiers, the Dragons. Sitting 13th on the competition ladder a win today for the Raiders will help them edge further away from the wooden spoon.
In the Toyota Cup the Warriors have trounced the Raiders with a 50-14 win.
Both sides have annouonced late changes. For the Canberra Raiders David Shillington joins the bench in place of Josh Miller, while for the home side Jacob Lillyman and Feleti Mateo move to the bench with Elijah Taylor and Ben Matulino moving to the starting side.
1 min: We have kickoff in Auckland.
3 min: Warriors get the first penalty of the game after making good meters up the field on their second set. They will go right on the attack in the Raiders' half here.
4 min: Johnson goes to the air on the last and Locke is able to bat it to Maloney is able to regather it but passes it to an opposition player and the Raiders knock it forward on their first play. Warriors will go on the attack again.
6 min: A poor pass from Johnson and the play unravels for the Warriors, the Raiders will get a scrum on their own 10 meter line.
8 min: Warriors are making great meters of their sets but just can't execute their plays well enough at the moment.
9 min: Raiders lose the ball on halfway and the Warriors will get more good field possession.
10 min: Maloney goes to the air on the last but Ferguson is too good and is able to diffuse it comfortably a meter out from his own tryline.
10 min: The Warriors have done a great job restricting the Raiders' meter gains, forcing Canberra to kick it deep from their own half. The homeside are already on halfway after the first tackle.
12 min: TRY
Warriors spread it out to the left and Manu Vatuvei scores in the corner for the home side. James Maloney conversion attempt from the sideline is unsuccessful.
New Zealand Warriors 4-0
16 min: TRY
Nice break by Vatuvei down the left side and the Warriors get a quick play the ball. Maloney goes to the air and Berrigan is there to score the try in the right corner. Maloney's conversion from the sideline is unsuccessful again.
New Zealand Warriors 10-0
18 min: Josh Dugan makes a nice kick return for the Raiders before being tackled on his own 30.
19 min: Great yardage from the Raiders on the back of that kick return and McCrone goes to the air on the last, Bill Tupou is unable to handle it clearly and the Raiders will go on the attack 20 out.
21 min: TRY
Josh Dugan throws a beautiful cut out pass out to his winger Vidot who dives over for the Raiders' first try of the match. Crocker fails to add the extras.
New Zealand Warriors 10-4
25 min: The Raiders put it through the hands on the last and Josh McCrone makes a great break down the right side before passing it to Thompson who cannot handle it. Opportunity gone begging there.
26 min: Maloney knocks it forward only five meters into the Raiders half and the Raiders will go on the attack.
27 min: The Raiders get a penalty and will take the tap 20 out from the Warriors' line.
29 min: The play breaks down for the Raiders again as Josh McCrone throws a forward pass under pressure.
31 min: The warriors make 70 meters on that set enabling James Maloney to put a kick into the in goal on the last forcing Josh Dugan to be tackled in goal.
32 min: Warriors get a penalty and will go on the attack only 20 meters out.
33 min: The play comes undone for the Warriors and the Raiders are off the hook.
34 min: The Raiders get a penalty on the last only 40 meters out from the Warriors line. They will go right on the attack here.
35 min: McCrone goes to the air on the last but Dugan can't get a hand on it and it goes dead of his shoulders.
36 min: Warriors make some great meters on the last but Jarrod Crocker is able to diffuse Maloney's bomb into the in goal.
39 min: TRY
Josh McCrone puts up a midfield bomb and Jarrod Crocker is there to take it and he scoots over the try line to level the ball game. Crocker adds the extras to give the Raiders a two-point lead.
10 all
40 min: Williams puts through a grubber on the last and it bounces over the sideline and that's the half.
41 min: Both sides have failed to complete their first set of the second half.
42 min: Kevin Locke pulls off a one on one strip only 30 out from the Raiders' line the Warriors will go on attack.
43 min: Sam Rapira might have scored here.
44 min: TRY Philadelphia Fight
Rapira gets the green light. The try was courtesy of a James Maloney kick and a mix up between the Raiders' backs. Maloney's conversion is successful.
New Zealand Warriors 14-10
46 min: Mateo knocks on only 10 short of halfway the Raiders will get some good field position.
47 min: Now the Raiders lose the ball.
47 min: The Warriors get six again ten out from the Raiders' line.
49 min: TRY
The Raiders rush up in the defence and Joel Moon is able to dodge the defence to scoot over for a try. Maloney's conversion from the western touchline is unsuccessful.
New Zealand Warriors 18-10
51 min: The Warriors have had 78 per cent of the possession in this half.
56 min: TRY
James Maloney is over for the Warriors 5th try of the match. He adds the axtras to extend the lead to 14.
New Zealand Warriors 24-10
61 min: Raiders just cannot hang onto the ball at the moment, the Warriors will go on the attack in the Raiders' half after a strip by Mateo.
65 min: Thompson makes a good break up the field for the Raiders and they will go on the attack on the Warriors half on the second.
66 min: Warriors concede a penalty for a hand in the ruck on the fifth, the Raiders will get another shot at them.
67 min: Good defence by Warriors keeps the Raiders out.
72 min: It has been all the Raiders in the last ten but the Warriors are digging deep in defence to keep them out.
77 min: TRY
A beautiful kick by James Maloney following an intercept by Kevin Locke catches the Raiders unaware. Bill Tupou grounds the kick to extend the Warriors lead. Maloney misses the conversion
New Zealand Warriors 30-10
79 min: Warriors will get a line drop out after Josh Dugan is trapped in goal.
80 min: FIELD GOAL
Maloney kicks a field goal on full time.
New Zealand Warriors 29-10