Newtown front-rower Thomas Hazelton takes on the Bears defence. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography
Newtown front-rower Thomas Hazelton takes on the Bears defence. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

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.

Jets Director Terry Rowney, Mike Hyde (son of the great Frank Hyde) and top-class Jets centre Kayal Iro at fulltime on Saturday.
Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

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.

Jets fullback Kade Dykes races in to score the “game-breaking” try on Saturday.
Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

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.”

The Newtown Jets have regained the Frank Hyde Shield for the first time since 2019.
Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

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.

This photo of the Newtown RLFC players, staff, Directors and sponsors was taken at Henson Park on the day before the final home game for the 2024 season.  (Photo: Mario Facchini)

The Newtown Jets celebrate what was a magnificent year in the history of Australia’s oldest rugby league club

Newtown Jets 2024 Presentation Night Poster

2024 NEWTOWN RLFC NSW CUP PREMIERS PRESENTATION DINNER & AWARDS NIGHT

Newtown's giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha gets into stride as he carries the ball forward in Sunday's NRL State Championship Final. Photo: Mario Facchini / mafphotography

Second half errors prove costly as the Newtown Jets lose narrowly in the NRL State Championship Final

Barry Vining of the Jets celebrates after the preliminary final of the NSW Cup finals series game between the Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney on September 23, 2012. Jets defeated Bulldogs 34-6. (Photo by Jason McCawley)

Vale Barry Noel Vining OAM

Image: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

Newtown Jets Team List v Norths Devils Sun 6th October, 2024 (NRL State Championship)

Newtown centre Mawene Hiroti crashes through the North Sydney defence to score a vital try for the Jets right on half-time. Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

The Newtown Jets are the 2024 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership winners, following a spine-tingling 28-22 win over North Sydney

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Newtown Jets respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the Land and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on and that the land area encompassing Henson Park traditionally belonged to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.