Newtown Rugby League Football Club - Established 1908
Jets show top form in final pre-season trial [42-12]

Trial 4 details

7.00 pm, Friday, 24 February 2012

New Era Stadium, 24/26 Sussex St, Cabramatta

Browse game highlights in the photo galleries of Gary Sutherland and Mike Biboudis.

Bumper's match report

The Newtown Jets completed their 2012 pre-season program with a 42-12 win against Wentworthville, in the VB NSW Cup trial match played at the New Era Stadium, Cabramatta on Friday evening.

Try to Justin Carney - showing our new front-of-jersey sponsor, SCU Photo by Mike Biboudis Trent Trotter heads for the post for one of his two tries Photo by Gary Sutherland

This was a much stronger Jets team than the one fielded on the previous weekend. Friday night's squad included six players with recent NRL experience plus another eight who have played in the Toyota Cup competition.

Newtown's coaching staff were pleased with the form shown on Friday, although they acknowledged that Wentworthville would almost certainly be stronger when the two clubs meet again in round one of the VB NSW Cup premiership.

One down after 11 minutes of play

The Jets began this trial in a somewhat rusty fashion and front-rower Josh Ailaomai's dismissal in the 11th minute of the first half didn't seem likely to assist the situation.

Newtown began to make inroads through the ruck and their passes began to stick, with four tries coming at regular intervals in the game's second quarter. The Jets led 22-0 at the half-time break with tries to the impressive fullback Alofa Alofa, winger Justin Carney, front-rower Ryan Verlinden and tall flankman Daniel Toupou.

Newtown coach Greg Matterson chastened his team for their untidy start and then urged his players to maintain their form from the second twenty minutes right through the second half.

Wentworthville scored first in the second half but the Jets reasserted control, adding a further four tries to run up a 42-6 lead with ten minutes remaining.

Halfback Trent Trotter scored two of the second-half tries and Toowoomba product, centre Ben Loxley, also collected a double.

A downside of the game was that in addition to Ailaomai's dismissal, prop Ryan Verlinden was placed on report for lifting in a tackle in the game's 79th minute.

Coach's assessment

Coach Matterson praised the players for the overall quality of their second-half performance and said this was a productive way to finish off their pre-season preparation.

Coming next

Newtown's team for the first round of the VB NSW Cup premiership competition will be announced at the club's season launch at the Petersham RSL Club on Tuesday night, 28 February.

The Jets first competition assignment is against Wentworthville at Ringrose Park on Sunday, March 4th, with the kick-off timed for 3.00pm.

Match summary

Newtown 42 [Trent Trotter 2, Ben Loxley 2, Alofa Alofa, Justin Carney, Ryan Verlinden, Daniel Toupou tries; Mark Kheirallah 4, Trent Trotter goals]
Wentworthville 12 [2 tries, 2 goals]
The match was played in two forty-minute halves. Half-Time: Newtown led 22-0.