The NZ Warriors defied excessive heat and humidity to secure a well-merited 16-4 Jersey Flegg Cup win over the Kaiviti Silktails at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
The temperature was a steamy 27 degrees (85 per cent humidity) when the match kicked off at midday on Saturday, more than double Auckland’s temperature when the team flew out on Friday morning.
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Coming off five consecutive defeats, the Warriors were desperate to breathe some life back into their season against a Fijian side which has had a challenging time in its first season in the under-21 competition.
As they did six weeks ago, the Silktails again tested the Warriors all the way.
In the last clash they recovered from a 6-0 deficit to lead 10-6 and had a sniff of their first win until the Warriors recovered with two tries to prevail 16-10.
This time there would be no repeat.
The Warriors bolted out of the blocks with a try to centre Siale Faeamani in just the seventh minute with Maui Winitana-Patelesio converting for a 6-0 lead.
It was out to 10-0 14 minutes later, with a try to exciting fullback Sio Kali, who played for the club’s NSW Cup side last week.
After going to halftime with their lead intact the Warriors stretched to 16-0 nine minutes into the second half with their third try to centre Hiraka Waitai, which he converted.
While the locals replied with a try seven minutes later that would end the scoring for the match as the Warriors defended their lead to claim their sixth win of the season lifting them to 15 points on the ladder.
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