Taking on the Warriors, top of the table, at home in Auckland was always going to be a tough task and the lads were up for the challenge. The team flew out early Friday morning, landing in Auckland to good conditions. After checking into the hotel, they got stuck into a Captain’s Run training session before a team dinner, a few rounds of cards and an early night.

Up early, the team prepared for a midday kick off (10am AEST) on a pretty nice winter’s day. Although the Wahs took the early points with a fast backline sweep to the wing, the Bears kept them scoreless for another 22 minutes before they were in again. Just prior to that, the red & black were attacking the line that saw Coby Thomas fling a long ball out to an anticipating Israel Ogden who knew what to do. Kieran Hayman converted, and the Bears took the lead 4 – 6. Warriors retaliated swiftly and with it took back the lead 8 – 6. Over the next 15 minutes the Wahs added two more tries, only one converted, to the scoreboard and took the teams to the sheds at half time up 18 – 6. Although the scoreboard showed a 12 point, or two converted tries, deficit the red & black felt still well and truly in the match, holding their own against a formidable Kiwi side.

The second half started sweetly with the red & black swiftly attacking the line. Ball sweeps out to the wing, finding Ethyn Martin who puts in a grubber as he is running out of room down the line. Tui Katoa takes up the chase and grounds the ball in a beautiful 4-pointer. Hayman converts and with 35 minutes remaining on the clock the score edges closer at 18 – 12. A number of errors by the Bears sees our momentum holt and allows an opening for the Warriors to make a break barging their way into the corner. Only seven minutes later and the Wahs are in again after an intercept that sees the blue, white and green run the length of the field and extend their lead to 28 – 12. Not done yet, the Bears did not drop their heads and continued to fight on. Near on ten minutes later a fast-attacking Bears line is pushing forward, Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown makes a break and gets off a small grubber that sees the ball cross back into the field of play. Matt Stimson is there to collect it and spins himself across the line to nab the points. Hayman converted and the score once again narrowed to 28 – 18 with twelve minutes still on the clock. The fight continues, but alas in the last minutes of the game its the home team that manages to find the line one last time and end the game 32 – 18, with another missed conversion. The Wahs win their 13th straight game, having only lost one match this season.

At no point in the 80 minutes did the Bears stop fighting and driving forward. The opposition saw two players sinbinned, one early and one late in the game, highlighting the fact that the Kiwis meant business. A gutsy effort against a formidable team.

The loss saw us drop back to 9th position on the comp ladder, placing us in a must-win position for all upcoming games.