Jets get home in a thriller against our long-time foundation club rivals

Newtown claimed two badly-needed competition points with a late intercept try by Edrick Lee.

There was very little in this game and although the Bears had a greater share of possession in the second half, Newtown’s determined and disciplined defence held the line when most needed. The scores were locked up at 12-all with eight minutes left to play, when the Torres Strait Islands Express, Edrick Lee, snapped up an intercept and raced ninety metres to score what was to be the winning try.

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – 10^th Round

Sunday, 14^th May 2017

North Sydney Oval

North Sydney v Newtown

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

This match was broadcast by Steele Sports, www.steelesports.com.au

Referee: Phil Henderson. Touch Judges: Damien Briscoe and Joe Eid.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Overcast, cloudy.

Temperature: 18 degrees, light southerly breeze.

North Sydney wore replicas of the jerseys they wore in the 1943 Grand Final against Newtown.

This match was also the first leg of the 2017 Frank Hyde Shield series between these two 1908 foundation clubs.

Newtown 16:

Jesse Ramien, Jordan Drew, Edrick Lee tries;

Fa’amanu Brown 1 conversion and 1 penalty goal

defeated

North Sydney 12:

Braidon Burns, Sitiveni Moceidreke tries;

Eli Levido 1 conversion and 1 penalty goal.

Half-Time: Newtown led 8-6.

Newtown’s team was:

Matt Evans, Edrick Lee, Jordan Drew, Jesse Ramien, James Tuitahi, Daniel Mortimer, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Dillon, Kurt Kara, Tepatasi Fuiavailili, Jack Williams, Jayden Walker, Jayden McDonogh.

Bench: Jaimin Jolliffe, Saulala Houma, Manaia Cherrington, Kenny Niko.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

North Sydney’s team:

Adam Doueihi, Braidon Burns, Dane Nielsen, Sifa Taiakai, Sitiveni Moceidreke, Eli Levido, Luke Kelly, Zane Musgrove, Brad Deitz, Brett Greinke, Piki Rogers, Cam Murray, Cheyne Whitelaw.

Bench: Tautalatasi Tasi, Toby Rudolf, Clayton Williams, Jack Gosiewski.

Coach: Ben Gardiner.

Timeline of Sunday’s match:

 First Half:

North Sydney kicked off to the Fig Tree end of North Sydney Oval.

This was a very even contest in the first 15 minutes.

Both teams challenged each other’s tryline.

Some ferocious physical exchanges, both sets of players obviously very committed.

16^th min: Inside pass from Fa’amanu Brown sends Jesse Ramien over to score to the left of the southern end goal posts.

Converted by Brown. Newtown 6-0.

Norths turned over a lot of ball in the first half and gave Newtown a surplus of possession.

31^st min: Fa’amanu Brown penalty goal. Newtown 8-0.

35^th min: Norths get some extended time in possession at Newtown’s end.

Winger Braidon Burns scores to the right of the goal-posts.

Converted by Eli Levido.

Newtown 8-6.

Half-Time: Newtown 8-6.

Second half:

Newtown running to the northern end.

45^th min: Superb delayed pass by Nu Brown gives Jordan Drew the chance to use his strength to crash over 10 metres in from the left hand touchline.

Try not converted.

Newtown 12-6.

55^th min: Norths applying a lot of pressure down their left-side. Good ball play and a classy off-load by Dane Nielsen puts Sitiveni Moceidreke over in the left corner.

Try not converted.

Newtown 12-10.

60^th min: Levido kicks a penalty goal for Norths and it’s 12-all with 20 mins to play.

Matt Evans does a great job in cleaning up Norths grubber kicks into the in-goal, showing anticipation and courage.

72^nd min: Norths attack up Newtown’s left side but an adventurous pass is seized upon by the remarkable Edrick Lee, who outpaces several pursuing Shoremen as he races 90 metres to score in the north-west corner.

The try isn’t converted by Nu Brown.

Newtown 16-12.

79^th min: Norths in possession in Newtown’s 20 metre zone and they turn on the razzle dazzle as they attempt to pull off a last-minute try.

Full-Time: Newtown 16-12.

Coach Matterson’s after-match comments:

Great spirit, great togetherness got the boys home.

The Jets cut down their errors and continued to improve their defence.

This was a valuable and brave win.

Brief stats:

Completions:

Newtown first half 72%; second half 69%

Norths first half 69%; second half 81%

Possession:

Newtown first half 57%; second half 46%

Norths first half 43%; second half 54%.

Penalties for the match: Newtown 8-6.

Gary Sutherland’s photos:  http://www.pbase.com/gsphotography/newtown_vs_norths_140517&page=all

Alby Talarico’s interview with Greg Matterson after yesterday’s game:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovmtrH1tV20

Interview with Newtown’s high-performance fullback Matt Evans:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15BM4fyGrbk

Interview with hard-working Jets forward Kurt Kara:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KtyV9iOxgQ

And an interview with Newtown’s first-half try-scorer and Junior Kangaroos representative centre Jesse Ramien:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdfBb-iIj-c

Newtown’s next match:

NSWRL ISP NSW – 11^th Round

Saturday, 20^th May 2017

Henson Park

Newtown v Illawarra

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.