Storm, Warriors drawn in ANZAC Day Clash

// April 26th, 2009 // Storm, Track and Field

Storm headed for a try

As the Storm and Warriors men began their pre-game warm-ups on field, the heavens opened and the rain bucketed down. Luckily for us, we were under-cover!

Before the game, there was a service to remember those lost in the wars and the traditional bugle song was played.

The Warriors opened up the scoring with a conversion from a penalty near their end zone.

It was not long into the game before fans got to get up and moving - the Storm scoring the first try! Cameron Smith converted through the posts, and received a rousing cheer as no one expected him to get any in a night with blistering winds and shitty conditions.

The Storm looked very promising in the first half, much better than they’ve looked all season, with form close to that of previous years. After 20 minutes had been played, super Billy Slater scored a great try. Storm were then leading 10-4. This was the scoreline going into half-time.

Slater not only scored a try during the game, but stopped a Warrior from getting down field on a long break-out sprint.

Nearing the end of the first half, Quinny looked set for a try of his own, when he got an accidental hit to the head right on the try-line, and was knocked out. Reports on the ’sports ears’ suggested he was on oxygen to help with the pain, and was taken away in an ambulance to hospital. This was not the only blow for the Storm, with youngster Kevin Proctor injuring himself after just minutes of being on the field.

However, before long in the 2nd half, the Warriors scored to bring them near. Storm were leading 14-6 but suffered two unconverted tries to see scores level. Luckily, the Storm were able to hold off the Warriors for the remaining 20 minutes of the game.

There was then over-time of 10 minutes, 5 minutes each way. Stacy Jones would probably be kicking himself after missing his kick through the uprights when right in front, hitting the post. He then had another direct chance to score the golden point, but chose to kick to the left for team-mates in hopes for a try, which they did not score.

Storm had a few chances in the over-time session also but were unable to unleash. With 22 seconds left, it was up to the video ref as to a decision on a obvious knock-on. Thankfully for that video ref, he saved a possible after-match riot by making the correct decision.

Then, the clock somehow lost 12 seconds, and the restart gave Storm just 10 seconds to make something happen. Unfortunately, they were unable to get close enough to their try zone to score any points, and the game resulted in a tie, 14-14.