Late surge by the Cutters denies the Jets a place in the Grand Final

Details of the ISP NSW Preliminary Final between Newtown and Illawarra Cutters, played at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, 18th September 2016.It was a titanic struggle between two fiercely-committed teams played in atrocious weather conditions, but the Illawarra Cutters’ two converted tries in the last six minutes have ended Newtown’s brave finals campaign for 2016. There were emotional scenes amongst the Jets players, officials and supporters after the game. This might not have been the best Newtown Jets team to have played in the NSW Rugby League’s top-tier competition in the past seventeen seasons (2000 to 2016 inclusive) but this particular group of men really developed an admirable esprit de corps and sense of mission. We wish all of the 2016 Newtown players, whether they are with the Jets again in 2017 or playing at another club, all the best for the future.NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSWPreliminary FinalNewtown v Illawarra CuttersLeichhardt OvalSunday, 18^th September 2016Kick-Off: 5.15pm.Illawarra Cutters 18:Taane Milne, Jacob Host, Adam Quinlan tries;Levi Dodd 2, Shaun Nona 1 goaldefeated Newtown 10:Kenny Niko, Jacob Gagan tries;Fa’amanu Brown 1 goal.Half-Time: 6-all.Referee: Ryan Jackson. Touch Judges: John Woods and Mitchell Stone.Playing surface: Excellent, although obviously slippery due to the prevailing weather conditions.Weather: 14 degrees C, light breeze, showers early in the first half, then heavier rain well into the second half.Newtown’s team:Jaline Graham, Corin Smith, Kenny Niko, Matt Evans, Jacob Gagan, Josh Cleeland, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Kara, Malakai Houma, Anthony Moraitis, Junior Roqica, Matt McIlwrick (Capt), Jesse Sene-Lefao.Interchange: Jason Schirnack, Kurt Dillon, Saulala Houma, Arana Taumata. Harrison Muller (18^th), Brent Anderson (19^th).Coach: Greg Matterson.Illawarra Cutters:Adam Quinlan, Kurt Mann, Taane Milne, Levi Dodd, Kalifa Fai Fai Loa, Shaun Nona, Josh McCrone, Jacob Host, Tyrone McCarthy, Chris Lewis, Shannon Wakeman, Siliva Havili, Damien Sironen.Interchange: Drew Hutchinson, Sam Coster, Jack Noble, Jay Gallagher.Coach: Jason Demetriou.Gary Sutherland’s photos from last night:  http://www.pbase.com/gsphotography/newtown_vs_illawarra_180916&page=allAnd here are Michael Magee’s photos from Leichhardt Oval:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/fromthetouchline/albums/72157672941685751How Matty Buxton from the NSWRL reported on the game:  http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2016/09/18/cutters_ground_the_j.htmlMatch timeline:First Half:Newtown kicked off to the Mary Street (Keith Barnes Grandstand) southern end of Leichhardt Oval.A high swirling kick by Fa’amanu (Nu) Brown forces a mistake from the Cutters.4^th min: Nu Brown’s kick into the left side southern corner ricochets and Kenny Niko grabs the ball and forces his way over in the corner.Not converted by Nu Brown.Newtown 4-0.7^th min: Good touch finding kick by Nu Brown into the south-east corner.Great kick return by Jacob Gagan – he picked up an awkwardly-bouncing Cutters kick in-goal and made 50 metres upfieldCutters putting in some good kicks into Newtown’s in-goal or near the Jets’ tryline16^th min: Penalty to Cutters midfield18^th min: Illawarra score through Taane Milne 15m to the right of the northern end goal-postsConverted by NonaCutters lead 6-4Nu Brown’s grubber kick mishandled by Cutters then a penalty to Newtown22^nd min: Nu Brown’s penalty goal attempt hits the upright and bounces awayThen the Cutters get a relieving penalty24^th min: High kick at Newtown’s end not handled safely but Cutters ruled to have knocked onVery good set from Newtown in 26^th min as the rain starts to get heavier28^th min: Jets go close with a good kick into the Cutters in-goal32^nd min: Cutters go very close to scoring36^th min: Jets force an in-goal drop-out on the Cutters38^th min: Penalty to Newtown; Nu Brown kicks a penalty goal.Half-Time: 6-all.Coach Matterson urges a renewed effort from his players.Everything rides on this half.Be wary of conceding 7-tackle sets to the Cutters with kicks that run deadThe extra tackle sets will be deadly in these wet conditionsFight this out set for set.Second Half:Illawarra kicking off to the southern end.A succession of handling errors by both side attributable to the teeming rainNeither side has presumably played in conditions like this all seasonJets get at the Cutters end and Jacob Gagan goes from dummy-half and scores in the northern right hand corner (49^th min)Not converted from wide out by Nu BrownNewtown leads 10-6.Jets line kick in the 52^nd min ruled to have been out on the full (marginal!)More handling errors in the rain and in the tense match atmosphereJets forced into a goal-line drop-out but the ruling is over-ruled by a touch judge’s report and it’s a penalty to the Cutters (55^th min)Jets forced into another goal-line drop-outTheir defence is under enormous pressure from the CuttersMore handling errorsPenalty to Newtown midfield in 60^th minJosh Cleeland nearly sneaks through but loses the ball (61^st min)Cutters get a relieving penalty on their 10 metre line in 61^st minAnother penalty to Cutters with 15 mins left to playAnd another Cutters penalty in 69^th minNewtown defenders desperately tired – its been a huge effort in strength-sapping conditionsCutters force yet another goal-line drop-out with 7 mins to goIn the next set Cutters power over on the 4^th tackle 5 m to the right of the southern goal-posts (Jacob Host the try-scorer)Converted by Levi DoddCutters lead 12-10 in 75^th minQuinlan scores off an inside pass from Hutchinson in the next setConverted by DoddCutters lead 18-10 with 2 mins to play.Full-Time: Illawarra Cutters 18 defeated Newtown Jets 10.