Newtown Rugby League Football Club - Established 1908
Rd23 - Jets hard pressed to retain competition leadership [26-22]

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Match details

12.30 pm, [10.30am EST] Saturday, 14 August 2010

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand

Meet the players

Photographic highlights

NSW Cup ladder [end of last round]

Match summary

Newtown Jets 26 [Chris Tuatara-Morrison 2, Troy Savage, Sonny Tuigamala, Ryan Verlinden tries; Tu'u Maori 3 goals

Auckland Vulcans 22 [4 tries, 2 goals]

Half-time: Vulcans led 16-10

Weather: Cold, light rain. Playing Surface: Excellent.

Referee: Leon Williamson.

The Newtown Jets managed to overhaul a very determined Auckland Vulcans team to win last Saturday's 23rd round NSW Cup match by 26-22, after trailing 16-10 at halftime.

The match was played in the impressive surrounds of Mt Smart Stadium, the home ground of the New Zealand Warriors. Giant prop, Ryan Verlinden, scored what proved to be the Jets' winning try in the game's 70th minute.

Tit for tat scoring in first half

The Jets had made the journey across the Tasman knowing exactly how committed the Vulcans would be at home. While the Jets were defending their newly-acquired top of the table status, the Vulcans were fighting to regain a place in the competition's top eight.

The Vulcans scored first through a 90 metres intercept try in the tenth minute. Newtown replied by way of a try to centre, Chris Tuatara-Morrison, who received a clever inside pass from winger, Sonny Tuigamala, following crafty lead-up work by front-rower, Tinirau Arona. Centre, Tu'u Maori, converted from the sideline.

The Aucklanders regained the lead in the 25th minute but Newtown drew level again when winger, Troy Savage, won the race to the ball after Tu'u Maori had directed a well-weighted kick into the left side in-goal zone.

The Vulcans had the last word for the first half with a smartly-worked try right on the halftime siren.

Tense, second half tussle till Jets pull away

Penalties, errors and team discipline proved to be determining factors in the game's second forty minutes. The Vulcans conceded a midfield penalty early in the second half that resulted in Jets winger, Sonny Tuigamala, scoring a try, with Tu'u Maori then posting his second sideline conversion.

Inspired defence by the Jets thwarted an almost certain Vulcans try in the 48th minute, but the home team punished Newtown for a midfield transgression by scoring to retake the lead at 22-16.

Clever play by backrower, Jason Wells, laid the groundwork for Chris Tuatara-Morrison's second try in the 60th minute, following the sin-binning of a Vulcans' forward and then, the massively-built Ryan Verlinden crashed over with ten minutes remaining to play, after the Jets had mounted sustained pressure on the Vulcans line.

Player performances

Backrower, Brad Barrett, was rated the man of the match in this hard-fought win, while forwards, Tinirau Arona and Ray Moujalli, and backs, Tu'u Maori and Troy Savage, won plaudits from the coaching staff.

Next game

The Jets return to Henson Park this Saturday, 21 August, after four consecutive wins on the road. Newtown confronts the in-form Windsor Wolves at 3.00pm, and Cronulla-Sutherland and the Shellharbour Dragons provide a NSW Cup double-header when they meet at 1.00pm.

There is a special Men of League promotion day at Henson Park this Saturday, with a number of former Newtown Bluebags and Jets greats committed to attending.


Who played?

1

Luke Towers
Sponsored by Scott Corporation
2 Sonny Tuigamala [T1]
Sponsored by Golden Barley Hotel, Marrickville
3 Tu'u Maori [G3]
Sponsored by Charles Bailey, Ray White Inner West
4 Chris Tuatara-Morrison [T2]
Sponsored by Craig Leonard
5 Troy Savage [T1]
Sponsored by Golden Barley Hotel, Marrickville
6 James Aubusson
Sponsored by Steve Helmich
7 Liam Foran
Sponsored by Brett Scelly
14 Tinirau Arona
Sponsored by Good Fellows
9 Keith Peters
Sponsored by Soil N Stuff
10 Ray Moujalli
Sponsored by Dave Nelson
11 Brad Barrett
Sponsored by Earlwood Auto Electrical & Mechanical Repairs
12 Aidan Guerra
Sponsored by Matthew Borg
13 Jason Baitieri ©
Sponsored by Jennifer Malone

Interchange

8 Ryan Verlinden [T1]
Sponsored by John Cahill
15 Jason Wells
Sponsored by BRI Ferrier
16 Brad Takairangi
Sponsored by Undercover Music
17 James Koloamatangi
Sponsored by Trevor & AJ Folsom
18 Hughie Stanley [DNP]
Sponsored by Labelcraft
19 Nick Doig
Sponsored by De Bortoli Wines

Coach: Greg Matterson