VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS FORCED TO MAKE TWO CHANGES FOR NEWCASTLE CLASH
Injuries to captain Daniel ORegan and loose forward Scott Jones have forced the Vodafone Junior Warriors to make two line-up changes for Sundays National Junior Competition clash against Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium.
ORegan lasted only a few minutes of Monday nights breakthrough 22-14 win against Manly before leaving the field with more hamstring trouble.
Jones is out with a serious wrist injury which requires surgery and is expected to sideline him for up to three months. One of the busiest defenders in the competition, Jones was forced off late in the match.
With two first-choice back rowers out, coach Tony Iro has recalled Kurt Tehira, who made his debut against Parramatta on March 23. Hell celebrate his 20th birthday on the day of the clash against the Knights (April 6).
And coming onto the bench to make his first appearance for the Vodafone Junior Warriors is 18-year-old utility Constantine Mika. After having his off-season and preseason training programme disrupted by injuries, Mika began the season with the Auckland Vulcans; he has played in each of their three matches in the New South Wales Cup.
Apart from those two changes, the line-up is the same as the one that put together the historic victory over Manly at Brookvale Oval, giving the players the chance to belt out the clubs team song for the first time.
Among those retained are fullback Howie Matthews and winger Thomas Ah Van, who both profited in their debuts against the Sea Eagles. After goal-kicking problems in the opening two matches, Matthews provided greater comfort by kicking each of his first three conversions and he also scored his sides first try.
Ah Van had double cause to celebrate with a try in the first half and then the fourth and final touchdown to absolutely clinch victory late in the contest. The Ah Van family boasts a sibling in each of the three Auckland-based teams playing in the Australasian competitions Patrick with the Vodafone Warriors, Ralph with the Vulcans and Thomas with the Vodafone Junior Warriors.
Apart from Matthews and Ah Van, the Vodafone Junior Warriors had heroes aplenty against Manly with prop Russell Packer again standing out with his work rate. After gaining 203 metres in the first match of the season and 192 against Parramatta he carried the ball 20 times against Manly for another 193 metres and also made 27 tackles. Hooker Jason Tou topped the tackle count with 39 while 18-year-old second rower Sione Lousi and debutant standoff Angus Cameron both made 30. Apart from his two tries, Ah Van ran 14 times including seven dummy half darts for 164 metres.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors now face a Newcastle side which also has one win and two losses.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
2.00pm, Sunday, April 6, 2008
Referee: Ricky McFarlane
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1
HOWIE MATTHEWS
2
THOMAS AH VAN
3
ELIJAH TAYLOR
4
RUSTY BRISTOW
5
KURT KARA
6
ANGUS CAMERON
7
JODY HENRY
8
RUSSELL PACKER (c)
9
JASON TOU
10
LEESON AH MAU
11
EDDY PURCELL
12
SIONE LOUSI
13
KURT TEHIRA
Interchange:
14
NAFE SELUINI
15
BEN MATULINO
16
UPU POCHING
17
CONSTANTINE MIKA
COACH: TONY IRO
