The Bulldogs NYC side have this afternoon been defeated by the Warriors 34-24 in Wellington.
Although winger John Sila crossed for five tries, the Warriors just proved too strong across the park.
The Warriors opened the scoring with five-eighth Tuimoala Lolohea crossing in the ninth minute. It was a nice individual piece of play with the number six putting a grubber through for himself and regathering before having too much strength for fullback Patrick Templeman and crashing over. Halfback Mason Lino converted to put the Warriors in front 6-nil.
Just two minutes later the Bulldogs were able to answer back through try scoring machine John Sila. Off the back of a Warriors error the Bulldogs gained possession 40m out from the home sides line. It was Captain Moses Mbye who spotted the room out to the left and he threw a long ball out to Templeman who threw an even longer and better ball out to Sila who went over in the left hand corner. Templeman was unable to convert from out wide with the Warriors holding on to a 6-4 lead.
Sila crossed for his second try of the afternoon in the 20th minute with almost an identical play to his first. Again off the back of a penalty the young pups found themselves in good field position and a shift to the left through the same hands sent Sila over again in the left hand corner. Second time round Templeman beautifully converted to put the Bulldogs in front 10 6 after 22 minutes.
You would have thought the Warriors would have learnt but it was Sila who went over in the 27th minute to register his hat-trick and put the Bulldogs further in front. Again, it was a play sent through the same three sets of hands with Sila sliding over untouched one again. Templeman couldnt convert on this occasion with the score now 14 6 after 28 minutes.
With a bit of possession in the right area of the field the Warriors were able to answer back through prop forward Sam Lisone. It was a strong carry from the number 10 and that proved to be enough with his strength getting him through the line and able to cruise over to score. Lino looked as though he had packed his kicking boots, converting the second try and closing the gap to just two points, 14-12 after 33 minutes.
On the stroke of half-time the Warriors crossed for their third try and with that took the lead as both sides went to the break. It was a smart grubber from halfback Lino put in behind the line that he was able to regather and hand off to Lilohea as he approached Templeman at the back. The five-eighth then ran the remaining 10m untouched to go over under the uprights. Lino made it three from three off the boot to put the Warriors in front 18-14 at half-time.
The second half saw a flurry of tries to open proceedings. In just the 44th minute the Warriors crossed for their fourth try of the afternoon. It was back rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner who crossed after charging through Mbye to score. Lino again converted to extend the lead out to 24-14.
Seven minutes later Sila crossed for his fourth try of the afternoon. It was David Minute who broke through the front line of defence and into open space. From there he headed left and as he approached the fullback passed it on to Sila who went over to score. Templeman beautifully converted from the sideline to reduce the Warriors lead to just four points, 24-20.
The Warriors crossed for two further tries in the match through centres Solomone Kata and David Fusitua with Lino converting the first of the two to extend the Warriors lead out to 34-20 with 13 minutes remaining.
In an amazing individual effort Sila crossed for his fifth try of the afternoon in the 74th minute. On this occasion the big winger used his brute strength to shrug off two defenders before scoring. In a hard night for Templeman he was unable to convert with the score remaining 34-24.
The closing five minutes were played out without any drama with the Warriors recording a 34-24 victory in Wellington.
WARRIORS 34 (Lilohea 2, Lisone, Faitala-Mariner, Kata, Fusitua Tries; Lino 5
Goals)
Def.
BULLDOGS 24 (Sila 5 Tries; Templeman 2 Goals)
At: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Although winger John Sila crossed for five tries, the Warriors just proved too strong across the park.
The Warriors opened the scoring with five-eighth Tuimoala Lolohea crossing in the ninth minute. It was a nice individual piece of play with the number six putting a grubber through for himself and regathering before having too much strength for fullback Patrick Templeman and crashing over. Halfback Mason Lino converted to put the Warriors in front 6-nil.
Just two minutes later the Bulldogs were able to answer back through try scoring machine John Sila. Off the back of a Warriors error the Bulldogs gained possession 40m out from the home sides line. It was Captain Moses Mbye who spotted the room out to the left and he threw a long ball out to Templeman who threw an even longer and better ball out to Sila who went over in the left hand corner. Templeman was unable to convert from out wide with the Warriors holding on to a 6-4 lead.
Sila crossed for his second try of the afternoon in the 20th minute with almost an identical play to his first. Again off the back of a penalty the young pups found themselves in good field position and a shift to the left through the same hands sent Sila over again in the left hand corner. Second time round Templeman beautifully converted to put the Bulldogs in front 10 6 after 22 minutes.
You would have thought the Warriors would have learnt but it was Sila who went over in the 27th minute to register his hat-trick and put the Bulldogs further in front. Again, it was a play sent through the same three sets of hands with Sila sliding over untouched one again. Templeman couldnt convert on this occasion with the score now 14 6 after 28 minutes.
With a bit of possession in the right area of the field the Warriors were able to answer back through prop forward Sam Lisone. It was a strong carry from the number 10 and that proved to be enough with his strength getting him through the line and able to cruise over to score. Lino looked as though he had packed his kicking boots, converting the second try and closing the gap to just two points, 14-12 after 33 minutes.
On the stroke of half-time the Warriors crossed for their third try and with that took the lead as both sides went to the break. It was a smart grubber from halfback Lino put in behind the line that he was able to regather and hand off to Lilohea as he approached Templeman at the back. The five-eighth then ran the remaining 10m untouched to go over under the uprights. Lino made it three from three off the boot to put the Warriors in front 18-14 at half-time.
The second half saw a flurry of tries to open proceedings. In just the 44th minute the Warriors crossed for their fourth try of the afternoon. It was back rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner who crossed after charging through Mbye to score. Lino again converted to extend the lead out to 24-14.
Seven minutes later Sila crossed for his fourth try of the afternoon. It was David Minute who broke through the front line of defence and into open space. From there he headed left and as he approached the fullback passed it on to Sila who went over to score. Templeman beautifully converted from the sideline to reduce the Warriors lead to just four points, 24-20.
The Warriors crossed for two further tries in the match through centres Solomone Kata and David Fusitua with Lino converting the first of the two to extend the Warriors lead out to 34-20 with 13 minutes remaining.
In an amazing individual effort Sila crossed for his fifth try of the afternoon in the 74th minute. On this occasion the big winger used his brute strength to shrug off two defenders before scoring. In a hard night for Templeman he was unable to convert with the score remaining 34-24.
The closing five minutes were played out without any drama with the Warriors recording a 34-24 victory in Wellington.
WARRIORS 34 (Lilohea 2, Lisone, Faitala-Mariner, Kata, Fusitua Tries; Lino 5
Goals)
Def.
BULLDOGS 24 (Sila 5 Tries; Templeman 2 Goals)
At: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
