Jets and Sea Eagles Draw in Hard-Fought Trial

Newtown and the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (Manly-Warringah’s NSW Cup partnership club) drew 12-all in their NSW Cup trial match played at Blacktown on Saturday evening.

The Jets drew level in the last minute of play when powerful backrower Brock Gray burst through to score when it seemed that the Sea Eagles would hang on for a narrow win.

This match was played in four twenty-minute quarters, with the opening thirty minutes being played in searing heat. The shadow of the grandstand and a cooling breeze made for better playing conditions in the second half. Both clubs agreed that there would be no conversion attempts in this match.

The Jets and Sea Eagles each used around twenty-eight players, and competition for places in Newtown’s team in the opening competition round will get tougher with only one trial match still to play.

Elusive fullback Honeti Tuha scored Newtown’s first try in the 17^th minute and five-eighth Wyatt Rangi (formerly with the Glenora club in Auckland) scored just before half-time. Brock Gray’s last-minute try came after the Sea Eagles had the better of the final quarter.

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Newtown Jets 12 (Honeti Tuha, Wyatt Rangi, Brock Gray tries) drew with Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 12

Half-Time: Newtown led 8-4.

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Newtown’s team was:
Honeti Tuha, Edward Aiono, Addison Demetriou, Jonah Ngaroroa, Tyrone Phillips, Wyatt Rangi, Wyndham Peachey, Thomas Hazelton, Zac Woolford, Kurt Dillon, Bronson Garlick, D’Rhys Miller, Gabe Hamlin.

Reserves:
Brock Ilett, Eli Roberts, Joshua Delailoa, Moung Dut, Dylan O’Connor, Ethan Natoli, Jono Tufuga, Jackson Stewart, Caleb Uele, Manaia Rudolph, Tyla Tamou, Brock Gray, Jackson Garlick, Tom Caughlan, Duwanye Mariner.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Manager: Sam Mavrovelis.

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles:
Dylan Smith, Kane Allan, Tim Simona, Kenneth Koro, Bilal Maarbani, Brad Keighran, Alex Seve, Terrell May, Denzal Tonise, Kurt De Luis, Dane Aukafolau, Jordin Lieu, Reed Izzard.

Reserves:
Lucas Castle, Toni Tupouniua, Nathan Kegg, Francis Laloua-Tui, Phillip Makatoa, Luke Butfield, Tyrell Neiufi, Sione (Johnny) Fonua, Kelsey Coakes, Shaun Fitzgerald, Robbie Graham, Gus Garzaniti, Damon Smith.

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Match Statistics:

Completions:
First half – Newtown 85%, Blacktown 78%

Second half – Newtown 53%, Blacktown 55%.

Full-Time: Newtown 69%, Blacktown 65%.

Possession:
First half – Newtown 51%, Blacktown 49%.

Second half – Newtown 41%, Blacktown 59%

Full-Time: Newtown 47%, Blacktown 53%

Penalties:
First half – Newtown 2, Blacktown 2.

Second half – Newtown 2, Blacktown 6.

Full-Time: Newtown 4, Blacktown 8.

In the Ron Massey Cup trial match curtain-raiser at Blacktown, Glebe Dirty Reds 20 defeated Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 8.

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Newtown’s next trial match details:
NSWRL NSW Cup Trial Match

Saturday, 27^th February 2021

Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah

Mounties v Newtown

Kick-Off: 4.00pm.

This match is a curtain-raiser to the Cronulla Sharks v Canterbury Bulldogs NRL trial match at 6.00pm.