Match details
3.00 pm, Saturday, 30 April 2011
Brookvale Oval
Meet the players
NSW Cup ladder [end of last round]
Relive the game moment-by-moment in Gary Sutherland's photo gallery or view game highlights in the Mike Bidboudis or Jason McCauley photo slideshows.
The Newtown Jets NSW Cup team created club history on Saturday with their 48-12 away win against Manly-Warringah.
This was the Newtown club's biggest-ever winning margin against the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval since Manly-Warringah entered the NSW Rugby League competition back in 1947.
Jets supporters on edge after tense first half
The Jets turned in a less than convincing first half in this match when they led 14-12 at the halftime break, with everything pointing towards the second half being a closely-fought encounter.
Newtown had scored three well-constructed tries but midfield defensive lapses had enabled the home team to pull right back into contention through two converted tries.
Manly held to 0 in second half
Newtown's strong completion rate in the third quarter and their domination of possession and territory eventually ran the Sea Eagles ragged.
The Jets' forwards took control of the midfield and allowed the Newtown backs to do a lot of damage against Manly's left-side defence. Newtown's strong tackling denied the opposition any second half points for the second week in a row.
Coach's assessment
Coach Greg Matterson was naturally pleased with this record-making performance and was relieved that the team had not been affected unduly by late team and positional changes.
Fullback, Mark Kheirallah, came off in the first half with an ankle injury, causing the Jets to reshuffle their backline positions and to play out the rest of the match one man down on the bench.
Matterson noted another impressive display from Newtown's back-rowers - Willie Mataka, Brad Barrett and Aidan Guerra - and also praised front-rowers, Ryan Verlinden and Francis Tuigamala, for their rampaging charges at Manly's end of the field.
The Jets backline gave a much-improved performance and took smarter options. Centres, Francis Vaiotu and Kane Linnett, ran with determination and purpose and the former Balmain Tiger, Brett Lane, who has played in several positions this season, scored two tries and kicked six goals.
Five-eighth, Johnathon Ford, had his best game of the season and laid on some creative ballwork, while the feisty hooker, Scott Jones, is rapidly becoming a real favourite with the Jets faithful.
Ryan Verlinden high-fives Johnathon Ford after his try and gleeful Jets supporters congratulate players after the game.
Photos by Mike Biboudis and Jason McCauley
Match summary
Newtown 48 [Brett Lane 2, Steve Naughton, Kane Linnett, Brad Takairangi, Ryan Verlinden, Willie Mataka, Brad Barrett, Francis Tuigamala tries; Brett Lane 6 goals]
Manly-Warringah 12 [2 tries, 2 goals]
Half-time: Jets led 14-12.
Next game
The Jets travel to the south-west again this coming weekend for their 9th round NSW Cup assignment, when they play Western Suburbs at Campbelltown Stadium, Saturday, 7 May at 3.00pm.
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