Charles "Chicka" Cahill
Premiership winning Newtown forward in the 1940s and actively involved with the Bluebags for the next forty years.

Decider
Trevor Ryan-Neil Pringle Shield

3.00 pm, Saturday, 6 September

Henson Park
Last played Round 9 when the Jets won a closely fought game.
NSW Cup ladder  [end of last round]

Tigers win the Trevor Ryan-Neil Pringle Shield

The Balmain Tigers defeated the Newtown Jets 28-16 in the NSW Cup match played at Henson Park on Saturday, and in doing so ensured themselves of a place in the upcoming semi-final series, as well as claiming the Trevor Ryan-Neil Pringle Shield for 2008.

This trophy is conducted on an annual basis between the Tigers and the Jets and has become a keenly-contested prize between the two 1908 Rugby League foundation clubs. The Tigers' final try of the match, two minutes out from fulltime, enabled Balmain to take the Shield on a points for and against over two competition matches basis.

The Jets can take some solace from the fact that Saturday's result had no impact upon their fourth place finish on the NSW Cup competition table and that they will be hosting the Windsor Wolves next Saturday afternoon at Henson Park in a semi-final.

Saturday's deplorable weather played havoc with the Jets annual reunion day celebrations and would have blown a huge hole in the club's anticipated revenue budget.

The Tigers played with more intensity and application and deserved their win. The teams were locked up at 10-all at half-time but the Balmain boys played with greater purpose and composure in the second half.

Their on-line defence restricted the Jets to one second half try, and the Black and Golds looked to be in control for the last fifteen minutes.

Player performances

Newtown's form was well below the standard of the previous Saturday against Windsor and coach Greg Matterson will be looking for his players to rediscover that winning formula by next weekend.

Newtown was best served by hooker, Rory Kostjasyn, (who won the Jets players' player award) and lock Hep Cahill who scored two tries and has been one of this competition's marquee performers in recent weeks.

Jets team captain and five-eighth, Sean Rudder, used all his experience and guile to try and prise open the Tigers' defence but it was a day when the Jets took too many poor attacking options and employed an ordinary kicking game.

Next game

The Newtown Jets play the Windsor Wolves (Penrith's partnership club) in the NSW Cup preliminary semi-final at Henson Park Saturday, 13 September with this match timed to start at 3.00pm.

The Newtown RLFC Directors, coaching staff and players send out a special plea to all Jets supporters to turn up in force at Henson Park next Saturday and help the team take total advantage of the home ground semi-final.

Match summary

Newtown Jets: 16
3 tries, 2 goals

Balmain-Ryde Tigers: 28
5 tries, 4 goals

Weather: Wet, windy, cold.
Playing surface: Very good despite heavy rain.
Referee: Michael Laverty
Touch Judges: Melissa Yates, Andrew Zapantis

NSW Cup ladder
[end of last round]

Who played?

Coach: Greg Matterson