Newtown Rugby League Football Club - 1908-2008
Round 2 - Vs Western Suburbs - Game 1 - Tom Raudonikis Cup
Newtown Jets give the Magpies a history lesson [64-10]

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Match summary

4.30 pm, Saturday, 22 March

Henson Park

Newtown 64
12 tries, 8 goals

Western Suburbs 10
2 tries, 1 goal

Half-Time: Newtown led 24-6.

Weather - Overcast, had been raining earlier in the morning.
Ground conditions: Excellent.

Referee: Gavin West
Touch Judges: Shaun Evans, Luke Potter

The Newtown Jets celebrated the reopening of their home ground for most of the past 72 years, Henson Park, with an emphatic 64-10 win over fellow 1908 Rugby League foundation club Western Suburbs in the NSW Cup.

Victory to christen the 'new' Henson

The NSW Government had provided funding last year for the complete resurfacing of the battered old ground as well as the installation of a new irrigation system.

With Marrickville Council weighing in with renewed timber seating and brand new goal posts, the old ground was opened again for professional Rugby League football by Marrickville MP Carmel Tebbutt and the Mayor of Marrickville Dimitri Thanos.

The Jets swept to an early 16-0 lead with tries to man of the match Ray Moujalli, Brent Grose and the very efficient winger Byron Ford.

The Magpies responded with a long-distance try that revealed some flimsy defence, but Newtown added a further two tries through Mickey Paea and Ford's second to go in at halftime with a 24-6 lead.

With Sydney Roosters Chairman Nick Politis, Deputy-Chairman Michael Conn and former Magpies and Jets player Tom Raudonikis interested onlookers, the Jets completely dominated the second half scoring seven tries to one.

Player performances

Prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala scored two tries and surely signalled to the Roosters coaching staff that he is ready for call-up to the NRL ranks. Other Jets to play well were fullback Donny Thompson, ex-Hull KR winger Byron Ford (who scored 3 tries), five-eighth Luke Branighan, lock Jimmy Andersen, second-rower Mickey Paea and Nuuausala's front-row partner Ray Moujalli.

Players' Player award winner - Ray Moujalli

Next week

The Newtown Jets play away next Saturday, 29 March, to the Melbourne Storm's feeder club the Central Coast Storm at the Morrie Breen Oval, Wyong at 1.30pm.

A taste of the try feast

You'll find the full story of the game in pictures on Gary Sutherland's website.

Photo highlight
VB Premier League ladder
[end of last round]

Who played?

1	Don Thompson [T1] Sponsored by Sydney Airport
2	Byron Ford [T3] Sponsored by Golden Barley Hotel, Marrickville
3	Iosia Soliola Sponsored by Harvey Norman, Alexandria
4	Brent Grose [T2] Sponsored by Victor Sports
5	Tevita Folau Sponsored by Golden Barley Hotel, Marrickville
6	Luke Branighan [T1 G8] Sponsored by Miller and Associates Insurance Brokers
7	Jai Ayoub Sponsored by Blueprint Management Group
8	Frank-Paul Nuuausala [T2] Sponsored by Soil 'n' Stuff
9	Luke Gordon Sponsored by Petersham RSL Club
10	Ray Moujalli [T2] Sponsored by Visual FX
11	Mickey Paea [T1] Sponsored by SGE Credit Union
12	Danny Howard Sponsored by Seafood Systems Australia
13	Jimmy Andersen [C] Sponsored by Bowlers Club of NSW
14	Khalid Deeb Sponsored by Jets Sports Club
15	Luke Millwood Sponsored by Labelcraft, Leichhardt
16	Aaron Wheatley Sponsored by Discount Ski Tubes & Gear
17	Steve Meredith Sponsored by Dickson Canvas

Newtown Rugby League Football Club - 1908-2008 Round 2 - Vs Western Suburbs - Game 1 - Tom Raudonikis Cup Newtown Jets give the Magpies a history lesson [64-10]