League: Juniors set scene for comeback

The Warriors Under-20s showed the top side the comeback path yesterday, reversing a 0-8 deficit to the Roosters juniors at halftime to take out their third win of the season 22-14.

As with the first graders who followed them onto Mt Smart Stadium, they made far too many errors in the first half to expect to go in anything but behind. And as with the first graders, they suffered from inexperience and pushed passes under pressure which resulted in turnovers but they then rebuilt their organisation in attack and finally brought flair to bear to stun their opponents.

It leaves them with a three win-three loss record, the same as the top side, and like their seniors they are now inside the top-eight in their competition. And the double victory lifts the Warriors inside the top eight in the new Club Championship.

The Juniors were held scoreless while the Roosters worked two unconverted tries in the first half. Just after the break, right wing Bill Tupou took an intercept and went 95 metres to turn the momentum of the game. He backed up for the third in a 12-minute try spree, his 19th in 25 games in the Toyota Cup. An NRL place seems just a bit of size away for the 88kg wing, still just age 18.

Centre Rusty Bristow, another fine NRL prospect, ran in the Warriors' second try. Sideline conversions from newcomer Shaun Johnson cut the gap to 12-14. Then Kurt Kara went over from dummy-half, the locals closing down the last 10 minutes of the game.