Jets complete their trials on a mediocre note

The Newtown Jets were well beaten by Wests Tigers in their final trial match played at Henson Park on Saturday evening. Wests Tigers scored five tries to two and won 20-8, with both teams agreeing there would be no conversion attempts during the game. Wests Tigers led 12-8 at halftime and kept Newtown scoreless in the second half.

Jets coach Greg Matterson was disappointed with this performance, noting that the squad had trained very well in the latter stages of the pre-season. Newtown’s form was down on the previous Saturday’s strong showing against the Mounties/Raiders team. Matterson said there was plenty to be done in the next two weeks prior to the start of the Intrust Super Premiership NSW competition rounds. There will be several Cronulla Sharks full-time NRL squad members joining the Newtown ISP NSW team before the opening competition game on Sunday, 5^th March.

Newtown made it hard for themselves on Saturday with a low completion rate in both halves, and poor last play options limited the Jets’ scoring opportunities. Several kicks into the Wests Tigers in-goal zone had gone dead, thereby denying the Jets the chance of a repeat set with the ball.

Newtown suffered some pre-match misfortune with impressive young lock Jayden McDonogh breaking down in the warm-up session, and fullback Luke Towers being ruled out with a leg injury on the previous Thursday. The penalties had gone Wests Tigers way 9-4 which put added defensive pressure on the Jets.

The Jets coaching staff rated fullback Leigh Higgins and winger Jordan Topai as the best of the backs, with Malakai Houma, Saulala Houma, Kurt Dillon, Jaimin Jolliffe, Kenny Niko and Jayden Walker as the best forwards.

The Newtown Jets first competition match will be on Sunday, 5^th March against Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (Manly-Warringah’s ISP NSW partnership club) at HE Laybutt Fields at 3.00pm.

Newtown v Wests Tigers

ISP NSW Trial Match

Henson Park

Saturday, 18^th February 2017

Kick-Off: 6.00pm.

Wests Tigers 20:

Darcy Cox, Daniel Peck, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Sean Marsters, Watson Heleta tries.

(No conversion attempts taken by agreement between both teams)

defeated

Newtown 8:

Matt Evans, Ben Fritz tries.

Half-Time: Wests Tigers led 12-8.

Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski.

Touch Judges: Tim Roby and Adam Reid.

It was grey and overcast at Henson Park on Saturday evening, and quite a climatic contrast to the living hell of the previous Saturday.

Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius.

Playing surface: Excellent.

7^th minute: Darcy Cox try. Wests Tigers 4-0.

10^th minute: Daniel Beck try. Wests Tigers 8-0.

15^th minute: Ryan Papenhuyzen try. Wests Tigers 12-0.

35^th minute: Matt Evans try. Wests Tigers 12-4.

38^th minute: Ben Fritz try. Wests Tigers 12-8.

Half-Time: Wests-Tigers 12-8.

Newtown’s completions at half-time were 7 out of 15.

51^st minute: Esan Marsters try. Wests Tigers 16-8.

76^th minute: Watson Heleta try. Wests Tigers 20-8.

Full-Time: Wests Tigers 20-8.

Newtown’s second half completions: 10 out of 18.

For the match: 17 out of 33.

Penalties: Wests Tigers 9-4.

Newtown’s team:

Leigh Higgins, Ben Fritz, Haydn Peacock, Matt Evans, Jordan Topai, Jason Schirnack, Alec Bush, Kurt Dillon, Manaia Cherrington, Malakai Houma, Kenny Niko, Jayden Walker, Jayden McDonogh.

Bench: Brent Anderson, Kurt Kara, Jaimin Jolliffe, Saulala Houma, Jordan Galloway, Nesiasi Mataitonga, Tyla Tamou, Ben Murray.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Jayden McDonogh injured his knee in the team warm-up.

Luke Towers was out with a groin injury.

Wests Tigers:

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Christian Yassmin, Nathan Milone, Tony Tali, Toa Mata’afa, Rhys Armstrong, Veiru Mapesone, JJ Felise, Daniel Peck, Wesley Lolo, Jackson Williams, Jack Seijka, Darcy Cox.

Bench: Jack Wheelhouse, Bayley Sironen, Junior Tatola, Eli Roberts, Taniela Paseka, Ashley Nisbet, Jaleel Seve, Watson Heleta, Esan Marsters.

Coach: David Heath.