The trip across the Tasman didn’t slow our Cup team down, as they came out all guns blazing in Pukekohe. From the get go the team was switched on and worked hard to take a good lead keeping the Warriors to just one try in the first half. Sua Fa’alogo got the Bears on the board with a beautiful chip and chase converted by Keagan Russell-Smith. Only moments later Bears were attacking the line again, Russell-Smith puts through a sweat grubber to the corner that is easily picked up by Kieran Hayman and grounded. Six minutes along and Fa’alogo makes a break off a Russell-Smith offload and darts for the white line, Russell-Smith converts. At the 25th minute, the Warriors find the gap in the Bears defensive line and take their first and only points of the first half. Shortly after, the ball sweeps quickly to the wing and finds the hands of big Dean Ieremia who adds the four points. Not done yet, and two minutes left on the clock in the first half, Jake Toby shoots a long ball out from the centre and it moves quickly along finding Fa’alogo who again chips above the attacking plays and comes up with the bounce of the ball to nab a hattrick.