Warriors grind down Knights

The New Zealand Warriors, looking to build some momentum to their National Rugby League campaign, won a tense battle against Newcastle 13-0 in Auckland tonight.

Victory was confirmed in the final minute by young winger Kevin Locke, who grabbed a loose ball 25m from his own line to scamper downfield and score under the posts.

Locke had produced the same last-minute heroics two rounds ago, when the Warriors also produced a shut-out, 14-0 against the West Tigers.

In veteran halfback Stacey Jones' 250th match for the Warriors, the wet weather, including periods of sweeping rain, led to an arm wrestle and to errors, especially by the Knights.

Newcastle, who rested skipper Kirk Gidley because of calf muscle tiredness, lost their other New South Wales State of Origin representative, James McManus, in the seventh minute.

The winger broke down while running back to chase a kick and hobbled off with what appeared to be a left ankle injury.

The Warriors, with a strong wind at their back, dominated the opening half, camping themselves in Newcastle territory.

But the Knights showed good defence to hold the home side to a solitary try.

That came after five minutes, when Lance Hohaia, who was lively at five-eighth, barged over from five metres despite the attention of four tacklers.

Locke added the first of his two conversions.

The home side looked to have gone further ahead midway through the spell when a well-placed kick by Hohaia into the in-goal was pounced on by winger Manu Vatuvei.

However, replays showed Vatuvei just failed to ground the ball.

The Warriors, helped by Newcastle errors, had further attacking chances from good field position, but couldn't find a way through the Knights' solid goalline defence.

Newcastle started the second spell in lively fashion and were almost rewarded after five minutes when interchange forward Richie Fa'aoso bullocked over the line only to lose the ball in heavy contact.

The match developed into a tough, tight battle between the two 20m lines before Locke brought the crowd to its feet with 15 minutes to go with a big break from deep in his own territory.

As Newcastle scrambled, they were penalised for offside in front of their own posts, but the Warriors declined the shot at goal for an 8-0 lead, only to fail with their bid for a try.

With eight minutes to go, Hohaia landed a field goal finally to give the Warriors breathing space.

Locke's try, which he converted added the icing.

Scores:

NZ Warriors 13 (Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke tries; Locke 2 goals, Hohaia field goal) Newcastle Knights 0

Halftime: 6-0