Jets blow Sea Eagles away with second half points deluge

Virtual Season 2020 RD18 match report by Glen ‘Bumper’ Dwyer

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Newtown’s 44-28 win against the Manly-Warringah partnership club, Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, at Henson Park on Sunday was a game of two very different halves of rugby league.

The Jets led 12-6 at halftime after what had been a fiercely-contested and tense opening forty minutes. The Sea Eagles had looked dangerous with the ball and the second half shaped up as a tough, “take no prisoners” style of contest.

Newtown scored in the first minute of the second session and then proceeded to take control of the game midway through the half as the Jets ran in four tries in the space of ten minutes. The home team raced away to a 38-12 lead but conceded three tries late in the match that could have brought the Sea Eagles back into contention.

Jets backrower Siosifa Talakai was in outstanding form, playing a major role in three tries and scoring one himself. Jack A. Williams, Matt Evans, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jackson Ferris and Braydon Trindall were the best of the backline, while Talakai, Daniel Vasquez and Jimmy Jolliffe were the best forwards. Jolliffe, a popular identity with the Newtown supporters, was playing his 50^th game with the Jets on Sunday.

Experienced hooker Craig Garvey had been signed by the club late in the preceding week and made his debut with the Jets on Sunday.

The Jets take on St George-Illawarra at WIN Stadium, Wollongong next Sunday, 26^th May, with the kick-off timed for 1.50pm. This 11^th round Canterbury Cup match will be the main curtain-raiser to the Dragons-Sharks NRL fixture.

Sunday’s match details:

Newtown 44:

Matt Evans 2, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Siosifa Talakai, Sione Katoa, Jackson Ferris, Luke Polselli, William Kennedy tries;

Braydon Trindall 6 goals

defeated

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 28:
Lloyd Perrett 2, Zach Dockar-Clay, Abbas Miski, Charles Shepherd tries;

Kamren Cryer 4 goals.

Half-Time: Newtown led 12-6.

Referee: Damian Briscoe.

Assistant Referee: Damian Brady.

Touch Judges: Kieren Irons and Darian Furner.

The game was telecast live on 9GEM and broadcast by Steele Sports.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: 22 degrees, sunny with some cloud cover, light ESE breeze.

Newtown’s team was:

Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Jackson Ferris, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Matt Evans, Jack A. Williams, Braydon Trindall, Cruz Topai-Aveai, Billy Magoulias, Jimmy Jolliffe, Teig Wilton, Siosifa Talakai, Daniel Vasquez.

Bench: Luke Polselli, Wes Lolo, Craig Garvey, Greg Eastwood.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Blacktown Workers:

Jade Anderson, Abbas Miski, Dane Aukafolau, Alfred Smalley, Charles Shepherd, Kamren Cryer, Zach Dockar-Clay, Kurt De Luis, Denzal Tonise, Lloyd Perrett, Haumole Olakauatu, Tyler Cassel, Sean Keppie.

Bench: Tyran Ott, Andy Saunders, Francis Laloua-Tui, Fred Junior Mauala.

Coach: Steven Hales.

The results of the two other Magic Round matches played at Henson Park were:

North Sydney 34 defeated Wentworthville 20;

St George-Illawarra 32 defeated Newcastle Knights 6.

Details of Newtown’s next match:

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW – 11^th Round

Sunday, 26^th May 2019

WIN Stadium, Wollongong

St George-Illawarra (4^th place, 13 points) versus Newtown (9^th place, 8 points)

Kick-Off: 1.50pm.