Jets claim two hard-won competition points against old-time rivals

The Newtown Jets remain top of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table, after staging a rousing second-half fightback to overcome 1908 foundation club rivals the North Sydney Bears 20-14.

The game was played at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon and was also the decider of the 2022 Frank Hyde Shield series. The wet conditions impacted upon the game but it remained a gripping spectacle for the entirety of the match.

Norths scored a converted try in the tenth minute and later added a penalty in what were the only points to be scored in the first half.

The Jets revealed an inner-steel when they took control of the match in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Centre Mawene Hiroti scored in the 42nd minute, bulldozing front-rower Franklin Pele crashed over to score minutes later and then the capable winger Matt Ikuvalu dived over in the corner after receiving a slick back of hand pass from five-eighth Lachlan Miller.

The Bears proved how important this game was to them when they took advantage of a Jets error to add another converted try, drawing level at 14-all with just eighteen minutes remaining.

In such a tight game, it was likely that only a classy and inspired piece of play could help create the winning try.  Halfback Rhys Davis regained his own high kick and then a minute later sent fullback Kade Dykes over behind the posts on the receiving end of a superbly-timed short ball.  The try was converted and Newtown led 20-14.

In the gruelling playing conditions, Newtown received great value from hard-toiling forwards like Thomas Hazelton, Jesse Colquhoun, Caleb Uele, Franklin Pele, Liam Harris and Jayden Berrell. Centre Kayal Iro made good metres against determined opposition and made his share of strong tackles as well.

The Newtown Jets are at home again at Henson Park next Saturday (30th July), when they play near-neighbours South Sydney at 3.00pm.

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
19th Round

Saturday, 23rd July 2022

Henson Park

Newtown v North Sydney

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Newtown 20:

Mawene Hiroti, Franklin Pele, Matt Ikuvalu, Kade Dykes tries;

Mawene Hiroti 2 conversations

defeated

North Sydney 14:
Sandon Smith, Ethan King tries;

Adam Keighran 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal.

Half-Time: North Sydney led 8-0.

Referee: Darian Furner
Touch Judges: Pat Mackey, Nicholas Beashel.

Weather: Overcast, occasional showers, 16 degrees, light south-easterly breeze.

Playing surface; Well grassed, wet in patches.

Newtown’s team:
FB: Kade Dykes

W: Matt Ikuvalu, Tyla Tamou

C: Kayal Iro, Mawene Hiroti
H: Lachlan Miller, Rhys Davies
L: Vincent Rennie

SR: Charbel, Tasipale, Kayne Kalache

FR: Thomas Hazelton, Jesse Colquhoun

H: Jayden Berrell.

Interchange: Jensen Taumoepeau, Caleb Uele, Liam Harris, Franklin Pele.
18th man: Jonaiah Lualua.
Coach: Greg Matterson.

North Sydney:

FB: Ethan King
W: Kevin Naiqama, Tom Carr
C: Kieran Hayman, Lalotoa Mata’afa

H: Adam Keighran, Sandon Smith
L: Naufahu Whyte
SR: Joshua Wong, Jordin Leiu
FR: Ben Thomas, Regan Hughes
H: Ben Marschke.

Interchange: Tyler Moriarty, Renouf Atoni, Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapua, Michael Fenn.
18th man: Victor Tereszko.

Coach: Jason Taylor.

Match Timeline:
Newtown kick off, running to the Sydenham Road end.
10.20: Norths gain a six-again at Newtown’s end and Sandon Smith cuts through to score to the left of the northern end posts.

Try converted by Adam Keighran. Norths 6-0 (12th minute).
Drizzly rain falling throughout much of the first half.
Penalty to Norths almost on Newtown’s tryline (33rd minute).

Adam Keighran kicks the penalty goal. Norths 8-0 (34th minute).
Both teams were making handling errors (not surprising given the playing conditions).

Halftime: North Sydney led 8-0.

NSWRL TV commentator notes that Norths could have had a bigger lead.

Second Half:
Newtown get at North Sydney’s end of the field very quickly.

Mawene Hiroti crashes over, running a great angle off a short pass from Lachlan Miller.

Try not converted. Norths 8-4 (44th minute)
Jets helped back to Norths end by a penalty.

Franklin Pele charges over off passing lead-up by Jayden Berrell and Lachlan Miller.

Mawene Hiroti converts the try. Newtown 10-8 (47.30)

Rhys Davies kicks into the right-hand corner.
Top-class off-load by Lachlan Miller puts Matt Ikuvalu over in the north-eastern corner.
Try not converted. Newtown 14-8 (60th minute).

Newtown turns over the ball midfield and Norths score in the next set.
Ethan King scores to the right-side of the southern-end goal posts.

Try converted by Adam Keighran. 14-all, 63rd minute.

Midfield penalty to Newtown in the 68th minute helps the Jets get up to Norths end of the field.

Rhys Davies turns on a slick inside pass that enables Kade Dykes to score.

Try converted by Mawene Hiroti. Newtown 20-14 (73.30)

Dangerous Norths backrower forced across the sideline by Mawene Hiroti and Tyla Tamou (78.50).

Full-Time: Newtown 20-14.

Newtown had to toil hard in tricky conditions to come from behind to beat their old 1908 foundation club rivals.

In winning this game, Newtown regained possession of the coveted Frank Hyde Shield.

Other TV commentary observations:
“This has been a tense, tight, low-scoring first half, with only one try scored in the tenth minute.

8-0 might be a difficult lead for Newtown to overhaul, given the obvious limitations of the playing conditions.”

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
20th Round
Saturday, 30th July 2022
Henson Park
Newtown v South Sydney
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

This Saturday is the occasion of the 2022 Beer, Footy & Food Festival, starting at 12 noon and ending at 6.00pm.