ID :
205048
Sat, 09/03/2011 - 16:17
Auther :

Warriors down NRL Cowboys 18-6


The Warriors ensured they will finish the NRL regular season at least sixth after downing fellow finals-bound opponents North Queensland 18-6 in Auckland on Saturday night.
The result lifts the Warriors from seventh to fifth, although they will slip back a spot unless Cronulla are able to upset West Tigers.
It also means that, in the first weekend of the playoffs, they will avoid meeting the two sides fighting out the minor premiership, Melbourne and Manly, who are both in action on Sunday.
The defeat looks likely to leave the Cowboys in seventh position at the end of the final round.
It was a winning farewell to Mt Smart Stadium for long-serving Warrior Lance Hohaia, who heads to English Super League club St Helens after his 10th NRL season.
The 28-Test Kiwi also marked his 181st first-grade appearance by getting on the score sheet with his 56th career try.
In front of 20,082 fans, the biggest crowd of the season at the venue, the Warriors opened the scoring courtesy of a defensive error.
A James Maloney bomb was allowed to bounce and halfback Shaun Johnson was on hand to palm the ball to winger Krisnan Inu to finish well in the corner.
The Cowboys struck back when their dangerous duo of halfback Johnathan Thurston and fullback Matt Bowen put winger Kalifa Fai-fai Loa over out wide.
But the visitors conceded again when utility Hohaia dotted down by the posts courtesy of a big break by Maloney, whose second conversion gave the home side a 12-6 halftime lead.
The Warriors began to dominate possession early in the second spell, but couldn't turn it into points until Inu grabbed his second try midway through the second spell.
The Cowboys produced a spirited finish, but handling errors and strong Warrior defence stymied their hopes of clawing back the lead.


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