Match details
3.00 pm, Saturday, 29 March
Crest Stadium, Bass Hill
Meet the players
Photographic highlights
NSW Cup ladder [end of last round]
Jets players vow to win in front of their loyal home-ground fans
The Newtown Jets confirmed their role as the giant-killers of the NSW Cup competition when they defeated top of the table Bankstown City 32-28 on Saturday at The Crest Stadium, Bass Hill.
Three weeks ago the bottom-placed Jets upset the previous premiership leaders Western Suburbs - and on both of these occasions Newtown has won playing away from home.
First half went blow for blow
The Jets went into Saturday's match as rank outsiders and the best their stoic travelling supporters might have hoped for was that the game would be a genuine contest.
The Jets traded tries with Bankstown in the first half but City scored a converted try right on halftime to lead 16-12.
Second half largely belonged to the under dogs
In the second half, the Jets added three converted tries and a penalty goal to take an unassailable 32-16 lead, even though the Bulldogs reserve team turned on their renowned razzle-dazzle to pull back with two converted tries in the last five minutes of the game.
Jets improve in discipline and line speed
This was by no means a show-piece performance by the Jets but there was great improvement in their on-field discipline and in their speed off the line in defence.
The Newtown defenders moved up quickly and harassed the much-vaunted Bankstown attack, forcing them into rash passes and repeated errors.
Stats favour Newtown
The Jets registered a much better completion rate than their opponents and made every try-scoring opportunity count. The penalties went Newtown's way 11-4 which the Jets used to their best advantage in gaining field position.
Player performances
Jets forward, Ray Moujalli, was Newtown's best player for the second week in a row and second-rower, Rohan Ahern, set an example for his team-mates with his high work-rate.
Centre, Tu'U Maori, was the best of the backs while midweek signing, Liam Foran, formerly with the Melbourne Storm and the New Zealand Warriors, made an impressive debut, displaying a good kicking and passing game.
It was an all-round team effort that each player could be proud of - in the jubilant Jets' dressing-rooms after the match, the players vowed to start winning in front of their diehard fans at Henson Park.
Match summary
Newtown 32 [Tavite Vatuvei 2, Iwi Hauraki, Sonny Tuigamala, Matthew Hall tries; Chris Tuatara 6 goals]
Bankstown City 28 [5 tries; 4 goals]
Half-Time: Bankstown City led 16-12.
Referee: Michael Laverty
Touch Judges: Peter Sciberras, Andrew Zapantis
Next game
The Jets are back at home next Saturday, 20 June, against the second-placed Central Coast Storm, the Melbourne Storm's official feeder club, with the action at Henson Park getting underway at 3.00pm.
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