Freezing conditions and injuries don’t deter the Newtown Jets in their stunning upset victory over the Panthers

The Newtown Jets have shown once again that their best performances in 2019 can be against opposition teams in the higher levels of the Canterbury Cup NSW competition table.

On Friday night, in bitterly cold conditions at Panthers Stadium, the tenth-placed Jets went in as rank underdogs against the third-placed Penrith Panthers.

Things looked grim when Penrith posted an easy try in the second minute of play, but the Jets dominated the remainder of the first half to go into the half-time break with an 18-6 lead.

Newtown then survived a post-halftime barrage when the power-packed Panthers had an unbroken spell of possession and favourable field position for fifteen minutes on end.

The Jets led 18-14 midway through the second half with the game very much in the balance, but Newtown laid on an exhilarating try in the 63^rd minute involving Greg Eastwood, Scott Sorensen and Braydon Trindall that seemed to take the game beyond the Panthers grasp.

Halfback Braydon Trindall converted all four of Newtown’s tries and added two penalty goals late in the game that gave the Jets a safe points buffer zone.

Five-eighth and captain Jack A. Williams was replaced in the first half due to a head injury. Wes Lolo and Siosifa Talakai were also injured and spent extended periods off the field.

Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg centre Jensen Taumoepeau made his Canterbury Cup debut with the Jets on Friday night. Jensen is a product of the Taranaki rugby league in New Zealand’s North Island.

The match details were:

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW – 21^st Round

Friday, 9^th August 2019

Panthers Stadium

Penrith v Newtown

The kick-off time was 5.40pm.

(This match was played as the main curtain-raiser to the Penrith Panthers_ Cronulla Sharks NRL fixture.)

Newtown 28:

Billy Magoulias (try in the 9^th minute), Jayson Bukuya (20^th minute), Will Kennedy (36^th minute) and Braydon Trindall (63^rd minute) tries;

Braydon Trindall 4 conversions and 2 penalty goals (kicked in the 69^th and 72^nd minutes)

defeated

Penrith 18:

William Burns (2^nd minute), Charlie Staines (43^rd minute), Matheson Johns (56^th minute) and Frank Winterstein (73^rd minute) tries;

Jed Cartwright 1 conversion.

Half-Time: Newtown led 18-6.

Referee: Drew Oultram.

Touch Judges: Cameron Mitchell and Daniel Luttringer.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: 13 degrees, with a bitterly cold strong wind blowing throughout most of the game.

The Newtown Jets have a bye in Round 22 of the Canterbury Cup NSW competition (17^th/18^th August).

Newtown’s team on Friday night was:

Will Kennedy, Luke Polselli, Tyrone Phillips, Jensen Taumoepeau,  Latrell Schaumkel, Jack A. Williams, Braydon Trindall, Jayson Bukuya, Scott Sorensen, Siosifa Talakai, Wes Lolo, Blayke Brailey, Jimmy Jolliffe.

Bench: Tyla Tamou, Teig Wilton, Billy Magoulias, Greg Eastwood.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Penrith’s team was:

Charlie Staines, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Jed Cartwright, Matheson Johns, Kurt Falls, Dean Blore, Hame Sele, Billy Burns, Frank Winterstein, Sam McKendry, Brendan Hands, Kaide Ellis.

Bench: Reed Izzard, Paea Pua, Pat Hollis, Tyrell Fuimaono.

Coach: Guy Missio.