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Warriors ruthless, Tigers toothless as home side produce Mt Smart masterclass

May 5, 2018

Relive all of the action from the Warriors' emphatic 26-4 victory over the Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium.

FULLTIME: Warriors 26 Tigers 4

It's over! What a display from the Warriors, picking up a brilliant 22-point victory over the Tigers in front of their home fans!

78 mins: Warriors 26 Tigers 4

The Warriors keep up the attack! Green looks for another grubber through the Tigers' defence, but the ball rolls comfortably into touch over the dead ball line.

76 mins: Warriors 26 Tigers 4

The Tigers spill another chance! This time it's Fonua who can't hold on, dropping the ball out on the wing to give the Warriors another crack.

73 mins: Warriors 26 Tigers 4

TRY!! Lawton has a double! The debutant charges through the Tigers' defence to grab his second since coming on to replace Issac Luke.

Solomone Kata lines up the kick with Johnson off the field, and it's an absolute shocker.

71 mins: Warriors 22 Tigers 4

A short break in play now, as the Warriors have taken an absolute battering. Adam Blair leaves the field with what looks like an ankle issue, before Shaun Johnson has to leave the field too. Johnson limps down the tunnel, as Mt Smart give him a standing ovation.

69 mins: Warriors 22 Tigers 4

TRY!! Lawton grabs a try on debut! Lawton grabs the ball out of dummy half, before finding Green. Green goes back inside back to Lawton, who throws a dummy before waltzing over for his first points in a Warriors jersey!

Johnson with the kick, and he has no trouble!

67 mins: Warriors 16 Tigers 4

Tuivasa-Sheck does well to win the Warriors another set on the Tigers' 10m line. Green kicks on the fourth and Masters gets there first, before Kata clobbers him to earn another line dropout.

62 mins: Warriors 16 Tigers 4

Tohu Harris smashes Corey Thompson on the Warriors' line, with the Tigers fullback unable to hang onto the ball. The Warriors' defence seems almost unbreachable tonight!

56 mins: Warriors 16 Tigers 4

Bad news for the Warriors now, as Issac Luke leaves the field with what looks to be a shoulder injury. He looks like he's in a bit of pain out there as Karl Lawton takes his place.

52 mins: Warriors 16 Tigers 4

TRY!!  The Tigers look to try and break through the Warriors' line again, but the home sides' defence is just too good! They manage to turn the ball over after a mistake from Masters. Johnson runs on the last before going wide to Hiku. Hiku goes outside again to Fusitu'a who draws in the defenders and passes back infield to Johnson! Johnson's too quick for the Tigers' defence and scores! What a counter attack!

Johnson looks to convert his own try, but he just pushed the kick across the face of the posts. Warriors lead by 12.

48 mins: Warriors 12 Tigers 4

And the Warriors are in again! Luke runs the ball from dummy half, before finding Johnson, who draws in the last defender before getting the pass to Fusitu'a who goes over for his second! Too easy, or is it? The referee wants to check for a possible obstruction, and the bunker agrees. Hiku connected with Brooks, the try is disallowed and the Tigers get out of jail.

47 mins: Warriors 12 Tigers 4

Another penalty from the Tigers just in front of their own posts and this time Elijah Taylor is sent to the bin! Poor discipline costing the Tigers big time!

45 mins: Warriors 12 Tigers 4

Nofoaluma makes a break, but Tuivasa-Sheck absolutely SMASHES him in the tackle! The Tigers look to go wide, but Benji Marshall fumbles the ball to waste a good chance for his side.

43 mins: Warriors 12 Tigers 4

The Tigers kick on the last set of the first half and Tuivasa-Sheck can counter. He's tackled infield before Kata charges at the Tigers' line. Gavet produces a strong carry, before Johnson kicks high. Corey Thompson claims but is smothered by the Warriors' defence.

41 mins: Warriors 12 Tigers 4

The Tigers are back out on the field first, before the Warriors return to the crowd's delight. Peta Hiku kicks deep to begin the second half!

HALFTIME: Warriors 12 Tigers 4

The referee brings the first spell to a close. The Warriors have made the most of some sloppy play from the Tigers to take an eight point lead into the break.

39 mins: Warriors 12 Tigers 4

Penalty!  The Tigers give away yet another penalty, and Tuivasa-Sheck opts for the shot at goal. Johnson lines up the kick from dead in front, and he nails it.

37 mins: Warriors 10 Tigers 4

Marshall kicks over the top for the Tigers but Blake Green does brilliantly to claim the ball in the air! The Tigers give away a penalty for the tackle on Green. The Warriors' defence holding firm before halftime.

34 mins: Warriors 10 Tigers 4

TRY!  The Tigers look to have scored from the restart! Fonua goes over out on the wing, but Fusitu'a does a good job of trying to force him out. The referee says no try as he goes upstairs. Fonua looks to have somehow stayed in! Brilliant finish as the bunker should overrule the on field decision. They do, the Tigers are on the board!

Masters lines up the kick, but he puts it wide for his first miss of 2018! 

32 mins: Warriors 10 Tigers 0

The Tigers are claiming a try at the other end now! Taylor looks to have gone close from dummy half, but has he grounded it cleanly? No he hasn't, no try the call, but the Tigers have earned themselves a penalty as Nofoaluma returns to the field.

29 mins: Warriors 10 Tigers 0

TRY!  Green and Johnson look to combine in another Warriors attack. Green throws a cutout pass wide out to Maumalo's wing and he won't be denied this time! The winger collects the simple pass and dives over uncontested!

Johnson with the kick, and he's put this one wide! Warriors ahead by 10 now.

25 mins: Warriors 6 Tigers 0

Johnson goes wide to Maumalo on the Warriors' fourth and he plants the ball, but has he stayed in? It doesn't look good for Maumalo who doesn't look to claim the try. Marshall made the tackle to force Maumalo out there.

23 mins: Warriors 6 Tigers 0

Nofoaluma is given 10 in the bin! He gives away a penalty for a tackle on Tuivasa-Sheck, before Kata tries to go quickly and is tackled by Nofoaluma who wasn't back. Huge advantage for the Warriors here!

22 mins: Warriors 6 Tigers 0

News coming through that Chris Lawrence has failed his concussion test, and is out of the rest of this match. Brooks looks to swerve his way through on the Tigers' last, before passing back inside to Fonua who is tackled to waste another set for the visitors.

21 mins: Warriors 6 Tigers 0

Brooks puts the bomb up on the last and Fonua drops it straight into Johnson's grasp! Maumalo runs up the middle. Luke has a go at the line before being brought down. Green tries to kick through on the last, but there's too much on the ball as it rolls dead.

18 mins: Warriors 6 Tigers 0

The Tigers look to hit back straight away as Brooks makes a good run! Tim Grant goes close but is held up over the line to force a restart. The Warriors' defence holds firm though to force the turnover.

15 mins: Warriors 6 Tigers 0

TRY!! The Warriors are on the board! The Warriors go quick from the next set, before Johnson produces a brilliant first-time pass to Fusitu'a, who has three men to beat in the corner, and he does just that! The winger dives over in the corner for his 11th try of the season!

Johnson with the kick from out wide, and he brings it back around beautifully! Warriors lead by six.

13 mins: Warriors 0 Tigers 0

Green puts Afoa through a gap! The prop is tackled and the Warriors are looking good here! Paasi charges at the line but the Tigers give away another penalty. Paasi runs on the first of the new set before being tackled. Harris goes on the second and is tackled. Paasi goes again and is tackled. Green kicks on the fourth but Nofoaluma is there first, before Kata comes in and tackles him in goal to force a line drop out!

10 mins: Warriors 0 Tigers 0

The Tigers run the ball at the Warriors, before Brooks kicks through on the fourth. Tuivasa-Sheck does brilliantly to tidy up the loose ball and get his side out of danger! Tohu Harris wins a penalty for the Warriors, diving on a loose ball ahead of Fonua.

8 mins: Warriors 0 Tigers 0

Blake Green gives away another penalty, this time for a high tackle on Nofoaluma - harsh call. Still scoreless at Mt Smart. Elsewhere, Chris Lawrence leaves the field for what appears to be a concussion test.

4 mins: Warriors 0 Tigers 0

Marshall kicks on the Tigers' last, but the ball deflects off Johnson into the grasp of Fusitu'a. Harris moves the ball upfield, before Johnson fires wide to Fusitu'a who makes a burst down the wing! A brilliant try saver from Naiqama and the Warriors are hot on attack here. Green kicks on the last but Marshall is safe at the back to tidy up behind the goal line. The Warriors give away a penalty trying to tackle him. 

2 mins: Warriors 0 Tigers 0

Issac Luke makes a swerving run on the fourth tackle of the opening set, no signs of his knee troubles. Johnson kicks on the last and the Tigers have a chance to attack for the first time.

KICK OFF: Warriors 0 Tigers 0

The Tigers kick to the Warriors and we're underway!

7:29pm

Mt Smart erupts now as Roger Tuivasa-Sheck leads the Warriors out onto the field! Kick off not far away!!!

7:28pm

Benji Marshall leads the Tigers out, seven Kiwis in the Tigers' side tonight. A decent reception from the Mt Smart faithful.

7:18pm

The Tigers head back into the sheds before kick-off, the Warriors meanwhile are all huddled on field, before making their way down the tunnel. 

7:05pm

Good evening! The big news from Mt Smart is that Issac Luke has been cleared to play after his knee injury against the Storm, while Simon Mannering will start from the bench.

PRE MATCH

After last week's humbling 50-10 Anzac Day defeat to the Melbourne Storm, the Warriors are looking to return to winning ways against a familiar foe.

A 10-day break between fixtures will hopefully see the Warriors refreshed and ready to bring their A-game, while the likes of Shaun Johnson, Solomone Kata and Tohu Harris all make their comeback from injury, hooker Issac Luke appears to have won his fitness race for tonight's clash.

For the Tigers, a number of familiar faces return to Mt Smart, with the likes of Benji Marshall leading a Kiwi core, containing former Warriors stars Pita Godinet, Elijah Taylor and Ben Matulino.

TEAMS:

Warriors:  1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2. David Fusitu'a, 3. Peta Hiku, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Blake Green, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Bunty Afoa, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Agnatius Paasi, 11. Simon Mannering, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Adam Blair

Interchange : 14. Karl Lawton, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Isaiah Papalii, 17. James Gavet.

Tigers : 1. Corey Thompson, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. Esan Marsters, 4. Kevin Naiqama, 5. Mahe Fonua, 6. Benji Marshall (c), 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Matthew Eisenhuth, 9. Pita Godinet, 10. Ben Matulino, 11. Chris Lawrence, 12. Robbie Rochow, 13. Elijah Taylor.

Interchange : 14. Alex Twal, 15. Josh Aloiai, 16. Michael Chee-Kam, 18. Tim Grant

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