League: Warriors make it four in a row

Brent Webb scores the match-winning try. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

NZ Warriors 28 Penrith Panthers 22

The New Zealand Warriors made it four in a row in the National Rugby League with a nail biting 28-22 victory over the Penrith Panthers in Auckland tonight.

A try by fullback Brent Webb six minutes from time to bring up his 200th first grade point broke the deadlock in what had been a seesawing match.

But it was a scratchy performance from the home side, who like the Panthers made numerous errors on a cold night and on a dewy Ericsson Stadium surface that made handling difficult.

The result meant the Warriors, with centre Simon Mannering getting two of their five tries, ended a six-match losing streak against the Penrith going back three years.

Mistakes came right from the opening whistle, with Warrior Jerome Ropati dropping the kickoff and from there errors punctuated the contest.

The Warriors hit the front in the fourth minute with Mannering profiting from a dummy half dab from Nathan Fien to score his first four-pointer.

Penrith got on the board with a Preston Campbell penalty before Mannering got his second with a runaway try.

A Campbell bomb went straight up the air and when teammate Danny Galea gathered the ball, he passed to Mannering, who fended off two defenders on a 60m run to the tryline. Tony Martin landed the conversion to extend the margin to 10-2.

But with interchange dummy half Paul Aiton adding some spark, Penrith hit back after the Warriors turned the ball over on their own 20m line. Campbell's cutout pass found Galea, who dotted down.

Three minutes from the break the Panthers moved ahead when another mistake gave them possession 10m out.

They worked the ball out to centre Lee Hookey, who crossed in the corner. Campbell's sideline conversion gave the visitors a 14-10 halftime lead.

The errors continued at the start of the second half, with the Warriors turning the ball over three times in the first three minutes.

But they went back in front thanks to a converted try that began with big 50m bust by winger Manu Vatuvei.

The attack ended when skipper Ruben Wiki forced his way over for his fifth touchdown of the season.

The Warriors went further ahead through the most spectacular effort of the evening, with winger Patrick Ah Van gathering a last-tackle kick just out from his own line.

The youngster set off upfield before passing to Martin, who had just enough gas to dot down in the corner. Martin converted from the corner.

But Luke Priddis' try from a Campbell kick into the in-goal helped to reduced the margin to 22-20 with 16 minutes to go.

Campbell then landed a penalty to tie up the game but Webb's try after some sustained pressure sealed the win.

New Zealand Warriors 28 (Simon Mannering 2, Ruben Wiki, Tony Martin, Brent Webb tries; Martin 4 goals)
Penrith Panthers 22 (Danny Galea, Lee Hookey, Luke Priddis tries; Preston Campbell 5 goals).
HT: Panthers 14-10.

Referee: Ben Cummins.

Crowd: 8723.

- NZPA