Yet another white-knuckle finish for the Jets …. And this time they get the points

Details of the 24th round Intrust Super Premiership NSW match between Newtown and North Sydney, played at Henson Park on Saturday, 20th August 2016 compiled by Glen ‘Bumper’ Dwyer.

The Newtown Jets and North Sydney Bears turned on a thriller at Henson Park that did justice to the Frank Hyde Shield series and to the big crowd in attendance. Newtown was playing for a possible place in the top four, while the Bears were fighting for their lives to stay in the top eight. Norths led 6-4 at halftime and it was 12-all going into the last minute, when Jets winger Jacob Gagan won the race to safely ground a well-judged grubber kick by Arana Taumata into North’s in-goal.

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership – Round 24

Saturday, 20^th August 2016

Henson Park

Newtown v North Sydney

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Newtown 16:
Jacob Gagan 2, Josh Cleeland tries;

Fa’amanu Brown 2 goals

defeated

North Sydney 12:

Tautalatasi Tasi, Abbas Miski tries;

Eli Levido 2 goals.

Half-Time: North Sydney led 6-4.

Newtown has retained the Frank Hyde Shield for 2016.

Newtown’s team on Saturday was:
Jaline Graham, Corin Smith, Keenan Yorston, Anthony Moraitis, Jacob Gagan, Josh Cleeland, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Kara, Malakai Houma, Jason Schirnack, Junior Roqica, Matt McIlwrick (Capt), Saulala Houma.

Bench: Brent Anderson, Arana Taumata, Kurt Dillon, Harrison Muller.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

The North Sydney team was:

Latrell Robinson, Dane Nielsen, Cameron Murray, Ed Murphy, Fred Junior Mauala, Sitiveni Modceidreke, Eli Levido, Clayton Williams, Tautalatasi Tasi, Riley Travers, Jack Siejka, Brad Deitz, Logan Houghton.

Bench: Abbas Miski, Jamel Hunt, Patrice Siolo, Piki Rogers.

Coach: Ben Gardiner.

Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Touch Judges: John Woods and Faye Lehane.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Fine, sunny, some cloud, brisk southerly breeze, 17 degrees C.

The ISP NSW competition table, top points scorers and top try scorers after 24 rounds plus all the Round 24 results:  http://live.nswrl.com.au/comp/197

Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – Round 25

Newtown RLFC 2016 Annual Reunion Day sponsored by SCU – More Generous Banking

Saturday, 27^th August 2016

Henson Park

Newtown v Manly-Warringah

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Alan Miller won the most recent Newtown RLFC quiz when he named six players from the 1996 Newtown Jets Metro Cup first grade premiership team.

For your information, the full Newtown Jets team on the night of the 17^th August 1996 at Parramatta Stadium was:

Craig Shaw, Greg Jordan, Peter Baumgart, Steve Benkic, Jason Evans, Darryl Neville (Capt), Brad Westaway, Paul Danes, Gavin Orr, Tony Catton, John Elias, Rod Morris, Scott Fleming. Bench: Craig George, Brett Taper, David Nye, Dayle Bonner. Coach: Colin Murphy. Newtown defeated Ryde-Eastwood 28-16 to make it two Metro Cup first grade premierships in a row.

Alan also corrected me in my claiming that Ian Henderson is the coach of the London Broncos RLFC. That club’s coach is in fact Ian’s older brother Andrew Henderson. Thank you Alan!

Several Newtown Jets fans asked on Saturday if the North Sydney back-rower Tautalatasi Tasi (formerly with Canterbury-Bankstown) is related to the former Sydney Roosters and Newtown Jets forward Lama Tasi. Yes, Tautalatasi is Lama’s younger brother. Lama is now playing with St Helens in the UK Super League.

Photos from Saturday:

Gary Sutherland:  http://www.pbase.com/gsphotography/newtown_vs_norths_200816&page=all

Mario Facchini:  http://mafphotography.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/intrust-super-premiership-2016-round-24.html?spref=tw

Saturday’s match report from the NSWRL: http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2016/08/20/jets_beat_buzzer_in_.html

Timeline from the Newtown v North Sydney match:

Newtown kicked off running to the northern end of Henson Park.

The Jets put Norths under pressure in the opening minutes but didn’t score.

Penalties to the Bears at their end took the pressure off them.

14^th min: Penalty goal kicked by Eli Levido. North Sydney 2-0.

Penalties continuing to punish Newtown and to give Norths territory and impetus.

The Bears were making ground midfield.

19^th min: Poor on-line defence by Newtown, Tautalatasi Tasi scores for the Bears.

Try not converted. North Sydney 6-0.

21^st min: Tasi is injured and leaves the field.

24^th min: Newtown goes close in north-eastern corner but no try ruled.

Repeat penalties giving Newtown some time at the Bears end.

Norths showing good line speed in defence and the Bears are using every trick in the book to slow down Newtown’s play the balls.

26^th min: Patrice Siolo (Norths) is sin-binned for repeated offences in the play the ball area.

28^th min: Norths let off the hook – Jets lose the ball 10 metres out from the Bears try-line.

Jets coach Matterson sends out the message – play smarter and lift the tempo to overcome Norths’ spoiling tactics.

37^th min: Jets on the attack and there appear to be opportunities out to the left-side, but Josh Cleeland sees his chance and spears through to score ten metres to the right of the northern goal posts.

Try not converted. Norths 6-4.

Half-Time: North Sydney leading 6-4.

Coach Matterson made it abundantly clear to the Jets players at half-time that they were not giving the Bears the respect they deserved.

Newtown trailed 6-4 after having had a stiff breeze at their backs.

The Jets had to step up, show more hunger for victory and more urgency.

Newtown had not taken full advantage of the Bears having a man sin-binned.

The first half had been one of missed opportunities given the surplus of possession that Newtown had.

Completions: Newtown 17/19; Norths 11/16.

The Jets had three times as many plays with the ball inside Norths 20 as Norths had at Newtown’s end.

Second half:

51^st min: Long break down left side for Norths by former Queensland State of Origin representative Dane Nielsen.

Ends in a try to winger Abbas Miski in the right-hand northern corner.

Try not converted from wide out, Norths lead 10-4 after 53 mins.

Jets trapped in-goal and Norths are looking more energetic and motivated.

Bears go desperately close to scoring again in the 55^th min.

Jaline Graham makes a jinking run out from Newtown’s try-line to help relieve pressure.

59^th min: Josh Cleeland’s kicks into Norths in-goal; Bears can’t control the ball and Josh Gagan scores.

Fa’amanu Brown converts from wide out kicking into the wind.

10-all with twenty minutes to play.

It’s a tense struggle with so much at stake for both teams.

70^th min: Penalty to the Jets after repeated sets at Norths end but unable to break through.

Fa’amanu Brown kicks a penalty goal from 15 metres out, 5 metres to the right of the posts.

Newtown leads 12-10.

73^rd min: Newtown kicks out on the full giving Norths valuable midfield possession.

74^th min: Jets give a penalty inside their own 20.

Bears kick the penalty goal (Eli Levido) and it’s 12-all.

76^th min: Long range field goal attempt by Norths shaves the left hand upright.

Seven tackle set to the Jets but they lose the ball on the first tackle 40 metres out from their own line.

38^th min: Bears miss another field goal attempt; McIlwrick’s inspired attempt to charge down the kicker put the Bears kicker off his aim.

Jets make better use of seven-tackle set this time.

Forwards make good metres through the middle.

39^th Minute: Newtown’s own attempt at a field-goal shot is thwarted, but Arana Taumata carries the ball to the right, kicks into the south-western corner and Jacob Gagan seizes the bouncing ball to score.

Try not converted from wide out.

Full-Time: Newtown wins 16-12.

Match completions: Newtown 89%, Norths 76%.

Newtown had a match total of 61 plays inside Norths 20, while Norths had 32 in Newtown’s 20.

Match penalties were 9-5 to Newtown.

Bears made 8 errors to Newtown’s 3.

Newtown had 172 plays with the ball compared to Norths’ 146.

Despite Newtown’s greater share of possession, Norths ran more metres than the Jets.

This was a desperately near thing (yet again) for Newtown and some commentators were saying that the better team might have lost.