League: Sharks bite the Warriors

Sharks 34 Warriors 20

SYDNEY - The New Zealand Warriors found themselves outplayed and out-thought by a classy Cronulla Sharks side, who delighted their fans with a home 34-20 win in their NRL clash last night.

The euphoria of the Warriors victory over 2005 champions Wests Tigers last weekend quickly dissipated against the relentless attacking of the Sharks, on the rebound after a loss to the Bulldogs.

The Warriors suffered a blow before the match when second rower Awen Guttenbeil fell ill and was sent back to the team hotel.

Coach Ivan Cleary promoted Evarn Tuimavave and Micheal Luck to the starting lineup with captain Steve Price dropping to the interchange bench.

Sharks centre Nigel Vagana inflicted the first blow on his compatriots, bursting on to a pass from Greg Bird to score after only a minute's play.

The Sharks were hot on attack seven minutes later but an interception by Warriors second rower Wairangi Koopu saw a dramatic turnaround, with Koopu making 50 metres and centre Simon Mannering bursting over for a try wide out on the next play.

It was the Sharks who were making most of the play and five minutes later Bird crossed over after Warriors five-eighth Jerome Ropati missed a crucial tackle.

The Warriors' failure to wrap up ball carriers was costly and after 25 minutes, winger Darren Albert scored after sustained presssure on the Warriors line, with a brilliant overhead flick from centre Phil Bailey helping him there.

The Warriors loked sharp on attack but poor kicking options on the last tackle let them down badly.

They probed with purpose in the latter part of the first half, but then their defence let them down when they failed to clean up a loose ball and Bailey was able to score after a clever grubber kick by Sharks captain Brett Kimmorley.

The class of Kimmorley shone through, especially in the first half with the Warriors lacking anyone with the tactical nous to match him.

The Sharks led 24-4 at halftime, but the Warriors came out charging early in the second spell. However, a behind the back pass by Sione Faumuina went astray and Albert scooped up the loose ball and raced 95 metres to score.

Faumuina made amends with a try 14 minutes into the half, but his side was denied another one after video referee Bill Harrigan ruled Faumuina had tackled Vagana without the ball over the goalline.

The Warriors were showing more purpose on attack and Faumuina figured strongly again as Koopu scored wide out with 15 minutes remaining.

But they let fullback David Simmons through for a soft try with eight minutes left and the Sharks were home though Koopu capped off a fine match by cleverly picking up an intercept in the dying minutes and galloped 85 metres to score.

Sharks 34 (Darren Albert 2, Nigel Vagana, Greg Bird, Phil Bailey, David Simmons tries, Luke Covell 5 goals)
Warriors 20 (Wairangi Koopu 2, Simon Mannering, Sione Faumuina, tries, Tony Martin 2 goals).

- NZPA