Jets turn on a performance for the ages – and for the stunningly large crowd

It truly was a day to remember for the Newtown Jets at Henson Park on Saturday. The combination of the Jets-Bulldogs Canterbury Cup clash and the fourth annual Beer, Footy and Food Festival drew a crowd estimated by authoritative sources as being in excess of 10,000.

In addition to the wonderful atmosphere created by the biggest crowd to attend a rugby league match at Henson Park in decades, the 10^th placed Newtown Jets emphatically defeated the competition leaders Canterbury-Bankstown by 32-12, after leading 18-4 at halftime.

This was one of the Jets most impressive performances for the 2019 season. Boosted by the inclusion of Cronulla Sharks NRL squad members Sione Katoa, Kyle Flanagan, Scott Sorensen and Jayson Bukuya, the reinforced Jets line-up scored six tries to three and proved they are certainly capable of making the Canterbury Cup finals.

Winger Sione Katoa was in superlative form, scoring three tries in the first half and setting up another midway through the second session. Fullback Will Kennedy had his best game this season and scored two slashing tries in the second half that put the result beyond doubt.

The Jets take on Manly-Warringah’s partnership club, Blacktown Workers, at Lottoland Stadium (Brookvale Oval) on Saturday, 3^rd August at 12.45pm. This match will be televised live on Fox Sports.

Match details from Saturday, 27^th July 2019:

Newtown 32:

Sione Katoa 3, Will Kennedy 2, Tyrone Phillips tries;

Kyle Flanagan 3 conversions and 1 penalty goal

defeated

Canterbury-Bankstown 12:

Toa Mataáfa, James Roumanos, Bronson Garlick tries.

Halftime: Newtown led 18-4.

Referee: Kieren Irons.

Touch Judges: Adam Reid and James Vella.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: 17 degrees, partly cloudy, southerly breeze.

Newtown’s team was:

Will Kennedy, Luke Polselli, Latrell Schaumkel, Tyrone Phillips, Sione Katoa, Jack A. Williams, 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.

Canterbury-Bankstown:
Toa Mataáfa, Christian Crichton, John Olive, Connelly Lemuelu, Jayden Okunbor, Brandon Wakeham, Faámanu Brown, Kaline Kalache, Bronson Garlick, Dalton Smith, Ofahiki Ogden, Ben Marschke, Jack Nelson.

Bench: James Roumanos, Elie El-Zakhem, Jesse Marschke, Matt Doorey.

Coach: Brad Henderson.

This Newtown Jets-related article appeared on the NRL official website on Thursday, 25^th July:  https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/25/taking-it-to-the-streets-new-book-details-newtowns-enduring-spirit/

Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW – 20^th Round

Saturday, 3^rd August 2019

Lottoland Stadium (Brookvale Oval)

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles v Newtown

Kick-Off: 12.45pm.

This match will be televised live on Fox League.

(This game is a curtain-raiser to the Manly-Warringah v Newcastle Knights NRL fixture).