Jets forwards lay the foundations for a memorable victory

Details of the NSWRL ISP NSW Elimination Semi-Final between Newtown and New Zealand Warriors, played at Pepper Stadium, Penrith on Sunday, 11th September 2016.

It might have been played in front of a sparse crowd at far-flung Penrith, but Newtown’s 22-18 elimination semi-final win against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday evening was probably one of the club’s most significant victories in recent years.

The Jets defied the widely-held truism that the team with the most players with NRL experience will usually win an Intrust Super Premiership match. The Warriors fielded twelve players with NRL experience on Sunday as opposed to Newtown’s six, but the Jets out-bustled and out-enthused their bigger opponents. The scores were 8-all at half-time but Newtown broke out to a 20-8 lead early in the second half and hung on for their eventual 22-18 win.

Newtown now advances to a preliminary final appointment against the Illawarra Cutters next Sunday (18^th September) at Leichhardt Oval at 5.15pm. Wests Tigers and Mounties will also meet at Leichhardt  in the other preliminary final on Sunday at 3.15pm.

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – Elimination Semi-Final

Sunday, 11^th September 2016

Pepper Stadium, Penrith

Newtown v New Zealand Warriors

Kick-Off: 6.35pm.

The match was shown live on Fox Sports and broadcast live by Steele Sports.

Referee: Jon Stone.  Touch Judges: John Woods and Mitchell Stone.

Newtown 22:

Josh Cleeland, Corin Smith, Matt McIlwrick, Kurt Kara tries;

Fa’amanu Brown 2 conversions and 1 penalty goal

defeated

New Zealand Warriors 18:

Henare Wells 2, Nathaniel Roache, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad tries;

Mason Lino 1 goal.

Half-Time:  8-all.

Playing surface: excellent.

Weather: Fine, mild, 17 degrees.

Newtown’s team was:

Jaline Graham, Corin Smith, Matt Evans, Kenny Niko, Jacob Gagan, Josh Cleeland, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Kara, Jason Schirnack, Anthony Moraitis, Junior Roqica, Matt McIlwrick (Capt), Malakai Houma.

Bench: Kurt Dillon, Harrison Muller, Arana Taumata, Saulala Houma, Brent Anderson (18^th man).

Coach: Greg Matterson.

New Zealand Warriors:

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Henare Wells, George Carmont, Matthew Allwood, Ken Maumalo, Ata Hingano, Mason Lino (Capt), Jazz Tevaga, John Palavi, Shaun Lane, James Gavet, Nathaniel Roache, Upu Poching.

Bench: Toatofoa Sipley, James Bell, Viliami Kaveinga, Daniel Palavi.

Coach: Stacey Jones.

Gary Sutherland took these photos of Newtown’s brave win:  http://www.pbase.com/gsphotography/newtown_vs_warriors_110916&page=all

Alby Talarico from Steele Sports interviewed Newtown’s Anthony Moraitis after full-time:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEDIp57lA-Q

Match timeline highlights:

Warriors kicked off to the southern end of Pepper Stadium.

Warriors in possession for an extended period at Newtown’s end.

5^th min: Nathaniel Roache scores 10m to the left of southern goal posts.

Not converted. Warriors 4-0.

Warriors go very close to scoring again in the 12^th min.

Jacob Gagan makes a great relieving run for Newtown.

13^th min: Penalty to Newtown 40m out from the Warriors line.

14^th min: Josh Cleeland dummies his way across the line to score 10m to the right of northern goal posts.

Not by Nu Brown. 4-all.

The crowd might be small but the Jets supporters are in full voice.

20^th min: Anthony Moraitis does a great one on one steal.

Jets force a goal-line drop-out.

In-goal kick b Newtown goes dead, 7 tackle set to NZW

Penalty to NZW 30 metres away from the Newtown try-line (25^th min)

NZW lose the ball close to Jets line, then Newtown gets a reliving penalty

27^th min: Cross-field kick by Nu Brown into the northern left-hand corner, grounded for a try by Corin Smith

Not converted by Nu Brown. Jets lead 8-4.

Exceptional defence by Newtown on their own line in the 32^nd and 33^rd minutes

Newtown defended against three consecutive sets to NZW

Penalty to Newtown in 34^th min was badly needed

Flamboyant ball-play by NZW ends in a Crossfield kick into right-hand southern corner, caught on the full by Henare Wells who scores.

38^th min: Not converted by Mason Lino. 8-all.

Half-Time: 8-all.

42^nd min: Matt McIlwrick backs up the middle and gets to the line just to the left of the southern goal-posts.

Converted by Nu Brown. Newtown 14-8.

NZW turn the ball over twice in quick succession.

Warriors starting to look disorganised and slightly panicky, tending to run one out.

51^st min: Borderline pass by McIlwrick to Kurt Kara sees the Waikato product run a superb angle to score under the posts.

52^nd min: Nu Brown converts. Newtown 20-8.

Now the NZW have a task in front of them.

Jets forwards starting to play like men on a mission.

Warriors midfield defence starting to break up.

Matt Evans snaps up a dangerous NZW kick in behind the Jets defensive line

Newtown attacking the NZW line; six again to the Jets then they get a penalty in the 59^th min.

Penalty is in front of the posts.

Nu Brown kicks the penalty goal and the Jets lead 22-8 in the 61^st min.

More strong Newtown defence on their own line

NZW throwing their heaviest artillery at the Jets but they’re hanging in there

Mason Lino kicks to the right side of the field and Wells catches the ball to score his second try (68^th min)

Not conv. Newtown leads 22-12.

Jets playing smart, running down the clock and kicking into the corners.

Jason Schirnack went off with a leg muscle injury in the second half.

Josh Cleeland is helped off in the 75^th min.

Try to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in 77^th min, converted by Mason Lino.

Jets lead 22-18 in 78^th min.

Frenetic ball play by NZW but the Jets defend the last set.

Full-Time: Newtown wins 22-18.

Stop Press from the Brad Fittler Medal awards night on Monday night:

Newtown’s Kurt Capewell nominated as the ISP NSW Player of the Year. Kurt didn’t win the award but our inside mail is that he went very close.