Warriors kick off with win
The Warriors women’s team has marked its first ever game with a mixed display as it overpowered Auckland at Mt Smart.
The Lusia Avaiki-coached team ran in six tries to one for a 32-4 victory in the trial game as preparations for the inaugural NRL women’s premiership ramped up yesterday.
After leading 26-0 at halftime, the second half was much more of a contest as Auckland took the fight to their more fancied opponents.
But while the Warriors’ attack was rusty in the second half, they did show good scramble in defence and in the end did well to hold Auckland to just one try.
Much tougher tests await for the Warriors when the premiership kicks off next month but the squad will be pleased to get their first run out of the way.
With the majority of the Warriors squad from Auckland, their opponents were always going to be up against it.
But the some of the skill on display from the Warriors would have troubled most teams.
Their slick ball movement was particularly impressive as they found plenty of space on the edges, while fullback Apii Nicholls scored the try of the match off a well-placed kick from halfback and captain Laura Mariu.
It took five minutes for the Warriors to score the first try in the team’s history.
An Auckland error in front of their own goal posts put the
Warriors 32
Warriors hot on attack, with halfback Laura Mariu taking the ball to the line to set up centre Amber Kani.
That was the first of three tries in consecutive sets as the Warriors showed just how deadly they could be with the ball.
A superb offload from prop Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala saw back-rower Tanika-Jazz Noble-Bell race 50m to score before wing Langi Veainu was on the end of a slick short-side play to finish another long-range try.
The Warriors scored five tries in the first half but could add only one more after the break as errors crept into their game.
Auckland’s second-half display highlighted the depth in the city as Auckland came home strong.
Reserve prop Kararaina WiraKohu was a real handful. She was rewarded for her efforts when she barged over for Auckland’s only try before Sarina Clark responded for the Warriors.