Plenty of positives to take out of the Newtown Jets second trial
The Newtown Jets went down 24-12 to Blacktown WorkersSea Eagles in the trial match played at Shark Parklast Saturday evening (23rd February). The score-line didn’t causeJets head coach Greg Matterson too much concern, as he pointed out that the SeaEagles had scored four tries to three and their better goal-kicking hadextended the winning margin.
Heavy rain had fallen in the first half and the SeaEagles took advantage of a couple of Jets handling errors at their own end ofthe field. Wes Lolo and Siosifa Talakai were two of Newtown’s best forwards while Ben Jones andMatt Evans played well in the backs. Wingers Tyrone Taukamo (ex-Souths juniorsand GPS Rugby) and Jiuta Wainiqolo (Fijian Rugby) looked impressive when inpossession.
The Sea Eagles led 18-12 at half-time and added theone converted try in the second half. Halfback Ben Jones, centre Matt Evans andsecond-rower Siosifa Talakai were invited by the Sharks coaching staff to playin the NRL trial match against Manly-Warringah, and all three had field time inthe final quarter of the NRL match. Cronulla-Sutherland won this match 28-22.
Newtown’sthird and final trial game is against the Newcastle Knights next Saturday, 2ndMarch, at the newly refurbished Maitland Sportsground at 3.15pm.
Newtown’steam on Saturday was:
Latrell Schaumkel, Chris Tupou, Pio Nakubuwai, MattEvans, Tyrone Taukamo, Ben Jackson, Ben Jones, Matthew Jurd, T J McLean, WesLolo, Siosifa Talakai, Anthony Moraitis, Greg Eastwood.
Bench: Royce Tout,Brandon Luamanu, Mitchell Casson, Kyle McLean, Jai Seymour, Jiuta Wainiqolo, ZaneElsley, Jai Bowen, Will Swann, Jackson Devine, Nathan Atkinson.
Details of Newtown’snext trial:
Saturday, 2nd March 2019
Maitland Sportsground
Newcastle Knights v Newtown
Kick-Off: 3.15pm.
Vale Frank Puddick:
The Newtown RLFC regrets to advise the passing offormer player Frank Puddick, who died on 19th February. Frank playedwith Newtownbetween 1965 and 1968. The Newtown RLFC extends sincere condolences to hisfamily and friends.