Newtown Rugby League Football Club - Established 1908
Rd2 - Jets hang on in the wet against Magpies [18-16]
Game 1 - Tom Raudonikis Cup

Match details

3.00 pm, Saturday, 19 March 2011

Campbelltown Stadium, Pembroke Rd, Leumeah

Meet the players

NSW Cup ladder [end of last round]

Match report

The Newtown Jets had to work doubly hard for their 18-16 win against Western Suburbs in the second round NSW Cup match played at Campbelltown Stadium last Saturday.

The misty rain and slippery conditions underfoot led to both teams recording relatively low completion rates, especially in the tightly-contested second half.

The Jets led 10-4 at halftime after having had very little ball in the first twenty minutes of the game.

Wests handle conditions better than Jets

Wests used tactics that were better suited to the difficult playing conditions and they did their best to nullify Newtown's more dangerous attacking players. It wasn't the best afternoon for long cut-out passes, chip kicks or for making sorties dangerously close to the sideline.

Captain, Khalid Deeb, protests to a 'deaf' referee.

Centre, Willie Mataka, scythes through defence.

Front-rower, Daniel Conn, leads the way.

The tradition continues as Jets supporters congratulate players after the game.

Newtown's in-form halfback, Mark Kheirallah, was closely marked by his opponents but still set up both of his team's first half tries with cleverly-placed kicks into the Magpies' in-goal zone. Even so, the Jets were forced to defend strongly in the first half, especially during the first quarter when Wests dominated possession and field position.

The Jets extended their lead to 14-4 in the 50th minute but were never able to put the result beyond doubt.

Wests fought back to trail by 18-16 with ten minutes left to play, although a number of possession turnovers by the Magpies late in the second half probably gave the Jets somewhat of a reprieve.

Player performances

Newtown front-rower, Daniel Conn, gave a tremendous display, and led the way for his team-mates by topping the tackle count and in the metres gained by any of the Newtown forwards.

Hooker, Kurt Kara, proved again what a quality signing he has been with plenty of tackling as well as hard graft in possession. Team captain, Khalid Deeb, made some massive hits on his opponents when most needed, and rugged centre, Willie Mataka, made a lot of ground with the ball.

Coach, Greg Matterson, was pleased with the team's defensive effort and their willingness to slog it out for a valuable away win in tough playing conditions.

Next game - home to Henson Park!

The Jets return to Henson Park this Saturday, 26 March, for their first appearance at home in this season's NSW Cup competition.

Their opponents are one of the form teams in this year's NSW cup, the Central Coast Centurions, who are the Newcastle Knights official reserve grade team. This match promises to be a high speed, free flowing encounter which is timed to kick off at 3.00pm this Saturday afternoon.

Match summary

Newtown Jets 18 [Willie Mataka, Rhys Pritchard, Byron Fruean, Sione Taka tries; Mark Kheirallah 1 goal]
Western Suburbs Magpies 16 [3 tries, 2 goals]
Half-Time: Newtown led 10-4.

Officials: Referee, Michael Laverty; Touch Judges, John Woods and Peter Sciberras.
Light rain, cool. Playing surface at Capbelltown Stadium was superbly grassed but slippery.

Read about the scoring moments on the NSWRL website teams page, scroll down to below the Magpies/Jets team lists.

Browse Gary Sutherland's and Mike Biboudis's photo galleries of the match.

Who played

Interchange

Coach: Greg Matterson