Jets big win sends them into the Preliminary Final

Newtown swept aside Mounties 34-16 in the Intrust Super Premiership elimination semi-final played at Kogarah Oval on Saturday afternoon. The Jets turned in a near-faultless first half to lead 18-2 at halftime, and then maintained their dominance by adding two converted tries to extend their lead to 32-2 after 56 minutes. Mounties scored their first try midway through the second half, and managed two more tries in the last seven minutes of the game.

Any concerns as to whether this young Jets team would bounce back from the previous weekend’s narrow qualifying semi-final loss proved to be groundless. The Jets displayed some of their best form of the year in the first half, when they commandeered more than 60% of possession and achieved a completion rate of 95%. Mounties tested Newtown’s defence in the opening ten minutes, but the Jets responded with tries to Briton Nikora, Billy Magoulias and Will Kennedy. Their two tries in the second half were scored by Sione Katoa and Wes Lolo, while Kyle Flanagan kicked seven goals from seven attempts (five conversions and two penalty goals).

This morale-boosting win was the result of an excellent team effort involving every player. Kennedy, Flanagan and Aaron Gray were the best of the backs, while Nikora, Lolo, Magoulias, Malakai Houma and Blayke Brailey were Newtown’s best forwards.

The Newtown Jets now advance to play minor premiers Penrith in the second Intrust Super Premiership preliminary final at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, 15^th September at 1.10pm.

The Elimination Semi-Final details were:

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – Elimination Semi-Final

Saturday, 8^th September 2018

UOW Jubilee Oval, Kogarah

Newtown v Mounties

Kick-Off: 1.10pm.

Newtown 34:

Briton Nikora, Billy Magoulias, Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Wes Lolo tries;

Kyle Flanagan 5 conversions, 2 penalty goals

defeated

Mounties 16:

Tony Satini, Makahesi Makatoa, Taane Milne tries;

Sitiveni Moceidreke I conversion, 1 penalty goal.

Half-Time: Newtown led 18-2.

Referee: Todd Smith.

Assistant Referee: Darian Furner.

Touch Judges: Mark Bohan, Adam Reid.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Overcast, 15 degrees, sharp southerly wind.

This match was televised live on Channel 9 and broadcast by Steele Sports.

Newtown’s team was:

Will Kennedy, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga, Aaron Gray, Reubenn Rennie, Sione Katoa, Jesse Marschke, Kyle Flanagan, Kurt Dillon, Blayke Brailey, Ava Seumanufagai, Briton Nikora, Anthony Moraitis, Jimmy Jolliffe.

Interchange: Billy Magoulias, Wes Lolo, Addison Demetriou, Malakai Houma.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Mounties team:

Tyler Cornish, Tony Satini, Sitiveni Moceidreke, Ed Murphy, Taane Milne, Brendan O’Hagan, Brad Abbey, Royce Hunt, Joel Luani, Liam Knight, Makahesi Makatoa, Jack Murchie, Corey Horsburgh.

Interchange: Seb Kris, Sam Duggan, Mitch Cahalane, Emer Guler.

Coach: Ryan Carr.

Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – Second Preliminary Final

Saturday, 15^th September 2018

Leichhardt Oval

Penrith v Newtown

Kick-Off: 1.10pm.

In the NSWRL Ron Massey Cup elimination semi-final played at Kogarah Oval following the Newtown-Mounties match, Glebe-Burwood (aka Glebe Dirty Reds) defeated Mounties 20-14 in an exciting sudden-death finals match.

The Dirty Reds will meet Wentworthville at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, 16^th September at 1.00pm.