League: Injured Locke hands Warriors thrilling win

kevin Locke in action. Photo / NZPA

Warriors 20 Roosters 18

Young New Zealand Warriors winger Kevin Locke scored the matchwinning try but departed the field in agony in a dramatic ending to a rain-soaked National Rugby League (NRL) match against the Sydney Roosters in Christchurch today.

Locke's hattrick try in the dying seconds, and James Maloney's goal from in front, gave the Warriors a thrilling 20-18 win over the Roosters after they trailed 8-18 with six minutes remaining.

The diminutive flyer, dropped mid-season by coach Ivan Cleary, latched onto a Lance Hohaia grubber, toed it ahead then dived on the ball as he slammed into one of the uprights.

As he lay writhing in pain with what appeared a serious hip injury, video referee Chris Ward awarded the try and Maloney calmly added the extras as Locke was carted off on a buggy, still managing a wave to the roaring crowd of 20,721.

Giant winger Manu Vatuvei gave the Warriors hope with the Roosters seemingly set for victory when he crashed over out wide in the 74th minute, and Maloney's sideline conversion got them within striking distance.

It was a welcome turnaround for the Warriors who had won just one of their previous nine matches in New Zealand outside Auckland.

The Roosters meanwhile, who chose to take a home match to AMI Stadium, were greeted by cold, wet conditions as they bidded for their eighth win of the season. The Warriors, meanwhile, boosted their season record to 7-7 with the vital win after they sat 10th on the ladder heading into round 16.

The Sydneysiders suffered a pre-match setback when captain Braith Anasta, who had been shifted to lock, was ruled out with a hamstring injury and replaced by Wellingtonian Mose Masoe.

The match quickly became a test of which side had the best kicking game and handling skills as the slippery ground and ball caused problems.

Locke's energetic chasing saw the Warriors score first in controversial circumstances from a pinpoint kick by Maloney.

Locke raced more than 50m to slap the ball down centimetres from the dead ball line as Roosters winger Phil Graham waited for it to roll dead. Replays were inconclusive as to whether Locke had applied downward pressure but Ward awarded the try with benefit of the doubt.

The Roosters, getting good go-forward from their pack, then showed some enterprise to strike twice in four minutes to take a 12-4 lead as five-eighth Todd Carney playing a big part.

After the Warriors conceded three consecutive penalties, the Roosters passed up a shot at goal from in front and Mitchell Pearce stormed onto a Carney pass to slide over near the posts.

They boosted their lead with a stunning try in the 22nd minute as they spun the ball and created an overlap down the left, Graham put in a centre kick and Carney followed up to grubber the ball then collect the rebound off the posts and score.

An error from stand-in Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello then handed Locke a second try as the Warriors struck back just before the break.

The Roosters fullback spilled the ball near his own line, the Warriors spun it wide and Joel Moon sent Locke over in the right-hand corner.

With conditions not letting up, the second half became a battle of attrition but the Roosters defended stoutly and looked more likely to score.

Former Kiwis centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall broke the match open in the 64th minute when he busted the line from inside his own half, then in the same set of six grabbed the ball 10m out and bulldozed over, carrying three Warriors defenders.

Carney's goal extended the lead to 10 points with 15 minutes left and it seemed a long road back for the Warriors in the conditions.

- NZPA