The top of the table Newcastle Knights have continued their winning ways defeating the New Zealand Warriors 40-34 at a sunny Hunter Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In a highly entertaining match, the Knights showed enormous courage to come back from an early 16-6 deficit to grind down their opposition in the second half.
The seventh placed Warriors were quick starters with Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard scoring in the corner just two minutes into the match. Halfback Mason Lino converted to give the visitors a 6-0 advantage.
The Warriors bagged two more quick tries to give the away team a 16-0 lead after 14 minutes.
However, the Knights hit back via a Jake Mamo try in the 17th minute, converted by Brock Lamb to bring the score to 16-6.
The Warriors' Lino scored in the 27th minute, but the Knights hit back with Harry Pondekas barging over off a Mamo grubber kick. Lamb successfully converted the try to narrow the gap 22-12.
With the Knights applying pressure on the Warriors defence the red and blue built well timed momentum before Danny Levi ran from dummy half to score with the extras added by Lamb to bring the score to 22-18 after 35 minutes.
The Knights came close again after a break up the sideline but the intensity fizzled after a dropped ball.
Quick hands saw the ball make it to Lachlan Fitzgibbon who slipped through the Warriors defence and bust over the line just before half time. Lamb's conversion put the Knights in the lead for the first time 24-22, which was the half time score.
It was great start to the second half when Danny Levi got his second to be converted by Brock Lamb.
But the Warriors were committed to staying in the race and returned fire with a try Warriors Jazz Tevaga in the 47th minute.
With 20 mins minutes remaining, a scuffle resulted in both teams losing a man to the sin bin, Joseph Tapine for the Knights.
Mamo’s lightning speed was on show when he made up half a field to bring the Knights back on their line. Soon after, good field position led to a second try to Harry Pondekas.
Warriors James Bell got one final one for the Warriors, which was converted by Lino to bring them to trail the Knight 36-34.
As the Warriors built pressure, Knights' Bradie Smith crossed the line in the 70th minute to secure a 40-34 full time win.
TEAM
Mamo, Birch, Smith, Peni, Robson, Lamb, Cogger, Tapine, Levi (c), Yates, Fitzgibbon, Pondekas, Boyce. Bench: Taylor, Togiatasi, Petterson-Robati, Koopu.
SUMMARY
Knights 40 (T: Pondekas 2, Levi 2, Mamo, Fitzgibbon, Smith, G: Lamb 6/7)
Warriors 34 (T: Tuimavave-Gerrard, Abbey, Lisone, Lino, Tevaga, G: Lino 3/4)
