Round 19 was FAMILY DAY at Henson!
Sponsored by SCU, Newtown Jets Major Sponsor

The season's biggest crowd was on hand at Henson Park on Saturday to see the Newtown Jets break their recent run of losses in the VB NSW Cup competition.

Match overview

The Jets defeated the Western Suburbs Magpies 60-8 and gave their points for and against differential a timely boost. The Magpies provided stiff opposition in the first half and made Newtown work hard for their 18-4 lead at the break, although the Jets were to take control of the match early in the second half.

The Jets are now in fifth position on the VB NSW Cup competition table in what is a very tightly bunched field. For example, the Auckland Vulcans are in 11th position on the table but with only four fewer competition points than Newtown. In the curtain-raiser played at Henson Park on Saturday, the Cronulla Sharks did Newtown a big favour with their 46-32 win against the Newcastle Knights.

Jets had to work hard for the lead in first half

Western Suburbs scored the game's first try on Saturday and took it right up to the Jets in the first twenty minutes.

Giant Newtown front-rower Saulala Houma, who joined the club from the Auckland Vulcans, powered over for the Jets' first try midway through the first half. This try was quickly followed up by a spectacular effort to fullback Alofa Alofa, who backed up a break and classy offload by hooker Glenn Dumbrell. The young hooker claimed a try for himself several minutes later.

Second half Newtown dominance

The Jets lifted their tempo early in the second half with five-eighth Mark Kheirallah sprinting away to score soon after play resumed. Kheirallah scored again late in the second half, while other Jets try-scorers were winger Daniel Tupou (2), front-rowers Dylan Napa and Andrew Pearn and impressive young centre Usaia O'Sullivan.

Tupou has now taken his try-scoring tally for this season up to 16. All of Newtown's 10 tries were converted, with 8 goals kicked by Blake Lazarus and 2 by Mark Kheirallah.

Coaching staff assessment

The Newtown coaching staff were obviously greatly relieved to break the past month's sequence of losses, even if it was at the expense of the competition's bottom-placed team.

Head coach Greg Matterson said there was still plenty of room for improvement in this performance, but it had been good enough to claim the competition points and to turn on a great attacking display in front of the season's biggest home attendance.

Matterson gave special mention to the efforts of Saulala Houma, second-rower Nick Ehsman and Usaia O'Sullivan. This win had been good for confidence building and to identify areas for improvement in the tough games ahead in the run into the finals.

SCU Family Day - a great success

Saturday's SCU Family Fun Day promotion was an unqualified success with hundreds of children enjoying an array of entertainment including of course the Jets' much-needed win. SCU mascot Syd the pig proved to be a great attraction for all the youngsters.

SCU's Syd the Pig joins the kids on the field at half time.

Match summary

Newtown 60 [Mark Kheirallah 2, Daniel Tupou 2, Saulala Houma, Alofa Alofa, Glenn Dumbrell, Dylan Napa, Usaia O’Sullivan, Andrew Pearn tries; Blake Lazarus 8, Mark Kheirallah 2 goals
Western Suburbs 8: [2 tries]

Half-Time: Newtown led 18-4.

Officials: Referee, Daniel Olford; Touch Judges, Gavin King and Mark Bohan.
Weather: Fine, mild and sunny.

Read the match report of Jodie Newell of the Newell Media Group - it includes a post-match interview [voice only] with Greg Matterson.

Next match

The Jets are back home again this Saturday, 21 July, for what will be a much sterner test of their abilities.

Newtown meets the Canberra Raiders feeder club, Mounties, who are making a strong challenge for a finals berth in their first season in the competition. Saturday's action at Henson Park gets underway at 3.00pm.

A 'text-eye' view of the game thanks to two great Newtown supporters, Wayne Leong and Alan Bell

The 'Tratty bike' refers to John Trad's penny farthing - see our website header. John Trad is Newtown's head trainer and does a lap on his bike each time Newtown scores a try.

Sheck back to 20's [Wayne]

Huge crowd - awful game Pies 4-0 then we kick out on the full... [Alan]

We are very lethargic [Wayne]

Finally after an eternity, Saulala scores next to post. Jets 6-4 [Wayne]

Alofa scores off a Dumbrell burst on restart and Tratty hasn't finished his lap. Jets score next to post but Tratty bike now needs repairs. Jets 12-4 [Wayne]

Glenn Dumbrell scored. Blake converts. 18-4. [Wayne]

Half time... 18-4. We keep trying to score off every tackle and ball security is awful.. But good result with Sharks beating Newcastle earlier. [Alan]

Half-time 18-4 and bombed 2 tries. We started horribly like the last time we played the Magpies. [Wayne]

Half-time - a good crowd [Wayne]

Killer [Mark Kheirallah] scores off the restart. Newtown, Newtown. Jets 24-4. [Wayne]

Tratty hasn't finished lap. Daniel scores from a beautiful break and offload from Josh [Ailaomai]. Newtown, Newtown, Newtown. [Wayne]

Now 30-8. We are kicking goals from the sidelines and pies missing from in front. [Alan]

Dylan under black dot. 36-8 with twenty to go. [Wayne]

Daniel scores again 40-8. Ktc. [Wayne]

Usaia scores under post from Blake offload. 48-8. Tratty bike broken now. [Wayne]

Killer under post. 52-8. KTC. Pearney next to post 58-8. KTC. [Wayne]

Full time 60-8. [Alan & Wayne]

Killer under post. 52-8. KTC. Pearney next to post 58-8. KTC. [Wayne]

I think Matto tore strips off them at half time... [Alan]