An injury-depleted Vodafone Junior Warriors side had a 22-48 trial loss to the Auckland Vulcans at North Harbour Stadium today (Sunday).
While the match was a preseason hit-out for the Vodafone Junior Warriors ahead of their NYC campaign, it was also a trial for the Vulcans as they build up to the New South Wales Cup.
Included in the Vulcans’ side were five members of the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL squad in experienced standoff Michael Witt, halfbacks Isaac John and Liam Foran, prop Herman Retzlaff and utility Aaron Heremaia.
Missing several of their first-choice players, the Vodafone Junior Warriors were 6-26 behind after 25 minutes – Witt and Heremaia were among the Vulcans’ try scorers – before recovering through fullback Kevin Locke’s brilliance. He scored twice in three minutes to trim the margin to 16-26 not long before halftime.
When centre Siuatonga Likiliki crossed in the second half, the Vodafone Junior Warriors were still in contention at 22-32 but the last quarter was largely one-way traffic as the Vulcans snared another three tries.
The Tony Iro-coached side will have its only full NYC trial when it faces the Gold Coast Titans in Lismore next Saturday.
Match details:
At North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Vodafone Junior Warriors 22 (Kevin Locke 2, Shaun Johnson, Siuatonga Likiliki tries; Shaun Johnson 2 conversions; Kevin Locke conversion).
Auckland Vulcans 48 (Raymond Ioane, Sione Tuitonga, Michael Witt, Shaun Metcalfe, Aaron Heremaia, Jeremiah Pai, Aaron Pawley, Taavili Leanoa, Justin Bernard tries; Michael Witt 4 conversions; Liam Foran 2 conversions).
Halftime: 32-16 Vulcans.
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