NSW Cup Round 21 Wrap

The Raiders NSW Cup team were narrowly defeated by the Warriors on Friday, losing 21-20 at Go Media Stadium in Auckland in a nail-biting finish.

The Green Machine were first to fire, with Nick Cotric making a line break down the right edge to put Adrian Trevilyan over the line in the 4th minute. Chevy Stewart successfully converted to give the Raiders an early 6-0 lead.

The Warriors looked to threaten the Raiders try line with a kick for the corner, but Raider’s centre Brad Morkos won the aerial battle, and ran the length of the field to score in the 11th minute. Stewart converted the try to further the Raiders lead to 12-0.

In the 14th minute a quick run from dummy half by Adrian Trevilyan pierced the Warriors defence for Stewart to score. Stewart converted his own try to leave the score locked in at 18-0.

Just before the break the Warriors got their first points on the board, with Michael Sio burrowing over the chalk to score from dummy half. Ronald Volkman converted the try to make it 18-6  at the break.

The Warriors hit first after the break, with Kalani Going scoring in the 51st minute. Volkman successfully converted the try to reduce the deficit to 12-18.

In the 54th minute the Raiders were granted a penalty where they opted to take the two. Stewart successfully slotted the penalty goal, extending the visitors lead to 20-12.

In the 66th minute both the Warrior’s Villami Vailea, and the Raiders Trey Mooney were sent to the sin bin which opened up the game.

Just a minute later Volkman scored for the Warriors in the 67th minute. Volkman converted his own try to make it 18-20 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

It was a back-and-forth battle as both sides tried desperately to win in the dying stages, but it was the Warriors who were able to kick the field goal, with Volkman sealing the win in the 79th minute for the Warriors to win 21-20 in Auckland.