The Junior Warriors couldn't stay with the Auckland Vulcans in yesterday's trial at Toll Stadium in Whangarei, losing 10-48 to last year's New South Wales Cup grand finalists.
It was a graphic example of young players being tested by a line-up comprising far more seasoned players, although the Vulcans didn'thave any Warriors players in their squad for this outing.
By halftime the Vulcans were well ahead 28-6 after a period in which the Junior Warriors were rarely able to apply any pressure due to a succession of errors. They weren't helped either by the loss of big prop Toka Likiliki with a knee injury after he had made a big bust.
Ultimately, though, the Vulcans were not only too experienced but were also well organised as they profited from a healthy supply of the ball.
Winger Niuvao Taka was unstoppable as he grabbed three of his side's 10 tries while four of the other try scorers were former Junior Warriors Agnatius Paasi, Rusty Bristow, Henry Chan-Ting and Daniel Palavi. Coming on the field late and kicking two conversions was DJ Collier, who scored 312 points for Junior Warriors last year when he led all scorers in the competition.
There were only slim pickings for the Junior Warriors after playing their earlier trials against Auckland club sides and the Wellington Orcas 20s. Halfback Jordan Meads ran 60 metres for an intercept try in the first half while Adam Tuimavave-Gerrrard scored the team's only other try late in the contest.
Auckland Vulcans 48 (Niuvao Taka 3, Agnatius Paasi, Rusty Bristow, James Blackwell, Ruebenn Williams, Henry Chan-Ting, Daniel Palavi, Manu Mau tries; Willie Stowers 2 conversions; DJ Collier 2 conversions). Junior Warriors 10 (Jordan Meads, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard tries; Braxton Stanley conversion).
