Jets commanding finish sees off Sea Eagles’ spirited challenge

Despite the forecasts of heavy rain for the entire weekend, the Newtown Jets staged a successful Beer, Footy & Food Festival on Saturday, as well as claiming a 34-16 win over Manly-Warringah’s NSW Cup partnership club, the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.

Two of Newtown’s best players on Saturday, powerhouse forwards Thomas Hazelton and Franklin Pele, scored Newtown’s first two tries, both courtesy of crafty passes from hooker Jayden Berrell.

The first half was an even contest and Newtown probably should have opened up a decisive lead. Blacktown’s defence was up to the task and they restricted the Jets to just two tries in the first forty minutes, while scoring two converted tries of their own to make the half-time score 12-all.

The Sea Eagles took a 16-12 lead early in the second half and despite the vocal support for Newtown from the big Festival crowd, the game was very much in the balance throughout the third quarter. While Newtown had a larger share of overall  possession, the Sea Eagles’ high completion rate enabled them to stay in the contest.

Newtown’s on-field cohesion had been disrupted by the loss of organising halfback Rhys Davies in the 25th minute, but the Jets eventually asserted their control of the match in the final twenty minutes with tries to winger Matt Ikuvalu, fullback Kade Dykes and two tries to the dynamic interchange player Addison Demetriou. Centre Mawene Hiroti converted five of Newtown’s six tries.

The return of the Jets play-making hooker Jayden Berrell, who had missed several games through a knee injury, injected considerable impetus to Newtown’s attacking capacity through his astute ball-play and incisive dashes from dummy-half. Five-eighth Lachlan Miller, who has been a true revelation in the NSW Cup this year, also added potency to the Jets’ attack.

Front-rower Franklin Pele’s two deft off-loads that led to tries by fullback Kade Dykes and replacement centre Addison Demetriou had quite a touch of the great Arthur Beetson about them. Newtown is now in second place on the KOE NSW Cup competition ladder, and the Jets take on the top-of-the-table Penrith Panthers at St Marys Leagues Stadium next Saturday, 30th April, at 3.00pm. This match is to be live streamed on NSWRL TV.

In the Ron Massey Cup (RMC) curtain-raiser played at Henson Park on Saturday, centre James Coyne (son of former St George great Mark Coyne) scored four tries for the Glebe Dirty Reds as Newtown’s RMC partnership club ran out 58-18 winners over the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.

Match details from Saturday:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect (KOE) NSW Cup

Seventh Round

Saturday, 23rd April 2022

Henson Park

Newtown v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (BWSE)

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Newtown 34:

Addison Demetriou 2, Thomas Hazelton, Franklin Pele, Matt Ikuvalu, Kade Dykes tries;

Mawene Hiroti 5 goals

defeated

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 16:
Alfred Smalley, Luke Hodge, Masi Paulo Fidow tries;

Masi Paulo Fidow 2 goals.

Half-Time: 12-all.

NSWRL Match Highlights:  https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/04/23/jets-v-sea-eagles-nsw-cup-highlights-round-seven/

NSWRL KOE NSW Cup competition ladder after seven rounds:  https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=7&season=2022

Referee: Matt Noyen

Touch Judges: Cameron Paddy, Mitch Currie.

Sin Bin: Alfred Smalley (BWSE) 25th minute.

Possession: Newtown 54%, BWSE 46%

Completions: Newtown 88%, BWSE 95%

Weather: 22 degrees, mostly sunny, partly cloudy.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Newtown’s team was:

Fullback: Kade Dykes
Wingers: Jonaiah Lualua, Matt Ikuvalu

Centres: Kayal Iro, Mawene Hiroti

Five-Eighth: Lachlan Miller
Half-Back: Rhys Davies

Lock: Tyler Slade
Second-Rowers: Jesse Colquhoun, Reuben Rennie
Front-Rowers: Thomas Hazelton, Franklin Pele
Hooker: Jayden Berrell.

Interchange: Addison Demetriou, Vincent Rennie, Jack Martin, Caleb Uele.

18th man: Tyla Tamou.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles:

Fullback: Jake Toby
Wingers: Masi Paulo Fidow, Raymond Tuaimalo-Vaega

Centres: Alfred Smalley, Jorge Taufua

Five-Eighth: Eiden Ackland
Half-Back: Dylan White
Lock: Adam Fearnley
Second-Rowers: Luke Hodge, Kenny Soumpholphakdy

Front-Rowers: Jacob Sykes, James Roumanos

Hooker: Tyran Ott.

Interchange: Bruce Ward, Joe Tramontana, Jordan Main, Bailey Cantrell.

18th man: William Swann.

Coach: Nathan Hogan.

Newtown’s next KOE NSW Cup match:

NSWRL KOE NSW Cup

Eighth Round

Saturday, 30th April 2022

St Marys Leagues Stadium

Penrith (1st place) v Newtown (2nd place)

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

(This game will be live-streamed on NSWRL TV).