General Big Trial Victory For Vodafone Junior Warriors

[PB_old]

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Fullback Kevin Locke bagged 20 points to propel the Vodafone Junior Warriors to an impressive 40-14 win over an Auckland Vulcans selection in a trial match at North Harbour Stadium on Friday night.
Locke scored two tries and kicked six goals from seven attempts as the Tony Iro-coached under-20 side took off in the second half.
In the second of four trials ahead of the National Youth Cup competition, the Vodafone Junior Warriors led only 12-8 at halftime.

Match details:
North Harbour Stadium, Albany:

Vodafone Junior Warriors 40
(Kevin Locke 2, Rusty Bristow, Alehana Mara, Francis Leger, Scott Jones, Thomas Ah Van tries; Kevin Locke 6 conversions).

Auckland Vulcans 14
(Afoa Fangupo, Tui Samoa tries; Willie Heta 2 conversions, penalty).

Halftime: 12-8 Vodafone Junior Warriors.

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Here's hoping that Locke can find a spot in the number ones before too long.

 

[PB_old]

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These were the sides:

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v AUCKLAND VULCANS

North Harbour Stadium, Albany
6.00pm , Friday, February 15

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS

1 KEVIN LOCKE
2 THOMAS AH VAN
3 FRANCIS LEGER
4 RUSTY BRISTOW
5 BILL TUPOU
6 JODY HENRY
7 ANGUS CAMERON
8 RUSSELL PACKER
9 JASON TOU
10 EDDY PURCELL
11 SCOTT JONES
12 BEN MATULINO
13 DANIEL O’REGAN

14 ALEHANA MARA
15 ARDEN McCARTHY
16 KURT KARA
17 ELIJAH TAYLOR
23 SIONE LOUSI
24 CONSTANTINE MIKA
26 STEVE RAPIRA

COACH: TONY IRO

AUCKLAND VULCANS

1 LIU FALEONO
2 COREY TEINA
3 AFOA FANGUPO
4 SHAUN METCALF
5 GRAHAM WOODHOUSE
6 WILLIAM HETA
7 PITA GODINET
8 HERMAN RETZLAFF
9 DARIN KINGI
10 DION BRIGGS
11 TOLEAFOA LEAUPEPE
12 JAYE PUKEPUKE
13 MANU PIPTOLU

14 SIMANA TUPOU
15 TUI SAMOA
16 DEAN EWE
17 ALFRED WILLIAMS
18 TULSON CAIRD
19 MEKE UNASA
20 KARL NATHAN

COACH: RUSTY MATUA

 

[Viking_old]

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Here's hoping that Locke can find a spot in the number ones before too long.

He's not getting the fullback spot off Wade, where else does he play, halfback maybe?
Has he put a bit of weight on? The comments last year were that he was a bit scrawny for 1st grade but had the talent.

 

[PB_old]

He's not getting the fullback spot off Wade, where else does he play, halfback maybe?
Has he put a bit of weight on? The comments last year were that he was a bit scrawny for 1st grade but had the talent.

A specialist fullback I'm afraid, and yeah, I heard he's small too, Viking. Warriors site states he's 1.75m and 79kg. If they're inflating his weight to prop him up they haven't done a good job. He's only 18, so biding a bit of time to come in solid may not be too bad, but someone has to pressure Rovelli so he either steps up, or is culled. Someone whose initials aren't LH. Wade has his spot in a squirrel grip, but when he was out the gaping black hole left was disturbing. Shortland apparently dropped to fullback when Wade went off tonight, and I imagine Kirk would cover too, because Ah Van, Ropati and Hohaia can't be put there anymore -- unless we want to advertise a glaring weakness.

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

lol, no please no make-shifts if we got specialist use 'em!

 

[Viking_old]

A specialist fullback I'm afraid, and yeah, I heard he's small too, Viking. Warriors site states he's 1.75m and 79kg. If they're inflating his weight to prop him up they haven't done a good job. He's only 18, so biding a bit of time to come in solid may not be too bad, but someone has to pressure Rovelli so he either steps up, or is culled. Someone whose initials aren't LH. Wade has his spot in a squirrel grip, but when he was out the gaping black hole left was disturbing. Shortland apparently dropped to fullback when Wade went off tonight, and I imagine Kirk would cover too, because Ah Van, Ropati and Hohaia can't be put there anymore -- unless we want to advertise a glaring weakness.

175cm and 79kgs isn't too bad at 18. Brent Webb would have been of similar height and about 85kgs when at the Warriors. Kevin should pick up another 5kgs by the time he hits his 20s, too slight for 1st grade now though.

 

[Kav_old]

Brett Hodgeson is a little bugger too but one of the best fullbacks imo (definitely the bravest and most constructive). It is not physical size that matters but heart and brain.

Kav (ex fullback West Coast U15 reps)

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

pinching for yourself are ya Kav?

 

[Kav_old]

pinching for yourself are ya Kav?

Nah, Victoria, just stating my somewhat modest credentials!!

Kav

 

[Northern_Union]

Brett Hodgeson is a little bugger too but one of the best fullbacks imo (definitely the bravest and most constructive). It is not physical size that matters but heart and brain.

Kav (ex fullback West Coast U15 reps)

Anthony Minichello
Brett Webb
Clive Churchill
Mathew Ridge

Four very good but very small fullbacks. You don't need to be big to play top level rugby league at fullback