Jets pay the price for sub-standard second half

The Newtown Jets dropped valuable competition points when they lost 26-24 to Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the Canterbury Cup match played on Saturday at Lottoland (Brookvale Oval).

Newtown led 18-4 at halftime, and increased this lead to 20-4 early in the second half. The Jets paid heavily for a poor second half completion rate, the concession of several penalties and missed scoring chances. The Sea Eagles ran down Newtown’s lead and scored a converted try in the 77^th minute to take the lead for the first time in the game.

The Jets weren’t helped by a run of injuries that left them with one replacement on the bench for most of the second half. The loss leaves Newtown in tenth place on the competition table, but still with the strong chance of securing a semi-finals place with four rounds remaining.

The statistics of the match show that the Jets completed at 89% in the first half and at 65% in the second. Newtown had 59% of possession in the first forty minutes and 40% in the second. Blacktown Workers had a gigantic forward pack that did not need to be invited into the contest as they were in the second half of the match.

Newtown plays Penrith at Panthers Stadium next Friday, 9^th August at 5.40pm. This match is a curtain-raiser to the Penrith Panthers-Cronulla Sharks NRL fixture.

Match details:

Blacktown Workers 26:

Lloyd Perrett 2, Tevita Funa, Abbas Miski, Zach Dockar-Clay tries;

Kane Elgey 3 goals

defeated

Newtown 24:

William Kennedy, Luke Polselli, Tyrone Ranuku-Phillips, Sione Katoa tries;

Kyle Flanagan 3 conversions, 1 penalty goal.

Newtown led 18-4 at half-time.

Referee: Kieren Irons.

Touch Judges: Martin Jones and Mitchell Stone.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Sunny, 19 degrees.

Newtown’s team at Lottoland on Saturday was:

Will Kennedy, Luke Polselli, Latrell Schaumkel, Tyrone Ranuku-Phillips, Sione Katoa, Jack A. Williams (Capt), Kyle Flanagan, Jayson Bukuya, Scott Sorensen, Siosifa Talakai, Greg Eastwood, Grant Garvey, Jimmy Jolliffe.

Bench: Braydon Trindall, Wes Lolo, Teig Wilton, Daniel Vasquez.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles:

Brendon Elliott, Jade Anderson, Dane Aukafolau, Tevita Funa, Lachlan Croker, Cade Cust, Sean Keppie, Tony Williams, Jack Gosiewski, Lloyd Perrett, Zach Dockar-Clay (Capt), Andy Saunders.

Bench: Tim Simona, Kane Elgey, Francis Laloua-Tui, Tyler Cassel.

Coach: Steven Hales.

Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW – 21^st Round

Friday, 9^th August 2019

Panthers Stadium

Penrith Panthers v Newtown Jets

Kick-Off: 5.40pm.

This match is the curtain-raiser to the Penrith Panthers-Cronulla Sharks NRL fixture at 7.55pm.