Newtown Rugby League Football Club - 1908-2008
In-form Jets march into second place in Premiership [28-12]

Match details

3.00 pm, Sunday, 1 June

Ringrose Park

NSW Cup ladder  [end of last round]

Wentworthville is Parramatta’s feeder club in the NSWRL VB NSW Cup competition.

The Newtown Jets have advanced into second place on the VB NSW Cup competition table following their gripping 28-12 win over Wentworthville (Parramatta's feeder club in this competition) at Ringrose Park on Sunday.

The combatants were locked together at 12-all at half-time and Newtown held a narrow 16-12 lead with less than twenty minutes remaining, but the Jets kicked away with two converted tries late in the second half to claim a morale-boosting victory.

A great win - a great team effort

Mickey "The Lionheart" Paea

This was the Jets' best performance this season, following on from last week's hard-fought win against the Balmain Tigers.

Newtown's forwards laid the groundwork for this victory, especially in the second half when very little separated the teams.

The Jets' best forwards were Mickey Paea, Ray Moujalli and Khalid Deeb but every member of the pack worked overtime in this no holds barred "needle match".

Halves Luke Millwood and Luke Branighan were Newtown's best backs with Branighan's accurate kicking in general play in the second half proving to be crucial in the Jets' late winning surge, along with Millwood's match tally of six goals from seven attempts.

Newtown's first-half tries came from centre Brent Grose, who showed neat footwork as he sliced between several defenders, and hooker Luke Gordon who won the race to swoop on winger Byron Ford's well-placed centre kick. Centre Toshio Laiseni and backrower Mickey Paea were Newtown's second-half try-scorers, with the second forty minutes played with the floodlights on and in wet and wintry conditions more akin to Odsal Stadium, Bradford than western Sydney.

No place for the faint-hearted

The game was a fiery contest from start to finish, highlighted by thunderous hits from both sides, and provided testimony as to what an enthralling spectacle Rugby League can be when played between well-prepared and uncompromising opponents.

Big front-rower Frank-Paul Nuuausala, who has been in such good form for both the Sydney Roosters and the Jets this season, suffered medial ligament damage about thirty minutes into the first half and it is hoped that he won't be out of action for any extended period.

Fullback Shaun "Axel" Foley made a welcome return to the playing field yesterday after having been injured in a motor vehicle accident earlier this year.

Match summary

Newtown 28
3 tries, 3 goals, 3 penalty goals

Wentworthville [Parramatta] 12
2 tries, 2 goals

Referee: Robert Bowen
Touch judges: David Ryan, Gavin West

Next game

There is a general bye in the VB NSW Cup competition for the Queen's Birthday long weekend, and then the Jets return to Henson Park for what will be a monumental showdown with the unbeaten competition leaders, North Sydney.

The coveted Frank Hyde Memorial Shield for 2008 also goes on the line when these two centenarian clubs meet at 3.00pm, Saturday14 June at Henson Park.

NSW Cup ladder
[end of last round]
Dedicated VB NSW Cup website

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