Jets hang on for a 26-20 win despite the dreaded second half syndrome

Details of the Fourth Round ISP NSW match between Manly-Warringah and Newtown, played at Brookvale Oval on Saturday, 26th March 2016 by Glen ‘Bumper’ Dwyer.

Intrust Super Premiership – Round Four

Saturday, 26^th March 2016

Manly-Warringah v Newtown

Brookvale Oval

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Newtown 26:

Jacob Gagan 2, Matt Evans, Malakai Houma, Arana Taumata, Kurt Capewell tries;

Mitch Brown 1 goal

Defeated

Manly-Warringah 20:

Hugh Pratt 2, Api Koroisau, Dylan Kelly tries;

Api Koroisau 2 goals.

Half-Time: Newtown led 22-4.

Referee: Jeff Hartup. Touch Judges: Brenden Wood and Benjamin Teague.

Weather: 25 degrees Celsius, mostly sunny.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Newtown’s team:

Mitch Brown (Capt), Jacob Gagan, Travis Robinson, Matt Evans, Daniel Abou-Sleiman, Josh Cleeland, Arana Taumata, Jason Schirnack, Kurt Capewell, Malakai Houma, Junior Roqica, Kurt Dillon, Kurt Kara.

Bench: Fa’amanu Brown, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Harrison Muller, Ahmad Ellaz.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Manly-Warringah:

Ben Fritz, Halaufa Lavaka, Nathan Green, James Tuitaki, Brayden Williame, Api Koroisau, Isaac John, Rhys Armstrong, Addin Fonua-Blake, Peter Schuster, Fabian Goodall, Dylan Kelly, Hugh Pratt.

Bench: Daniel Vasek, Johnnie Walker, Jordan Sims, Ezra Howe.

Coach: Luke Williamson.

Best players as nominated by the Steele Sports Radio team:

Arana Taumata and Mitch Brown (Newtown);

Api Koroisau and Hugh Pratt (Manly-Warringah).

Other ISP NSW Fourth Round results:

Mounties 18 defeated North Sydney Bears 16

Wests Tigers 32 defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 16

Wyong Roos 36 defeated New Zealand Warriors 20

Illawarra Cutters 46 defeated Penrith Panthers 18

Newcastle Knights 22 defeated Wentworthville Magpies 14

Newtown’s next match:

ISP NSW – Fifth Round

Saturday, 2^nd April 2016

Henson Park

Newtown v Wests Tigers

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Next Saturday at Henson Park has been officially designated as Hipsters Day.

Want to know what you have to do to fit into this overarching social paradigm – check out this link:  http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Hipster

Timeline of the Manly-Warringah v Newtown match:

Manly kick off and are defending the Pittwater Road end of Brookvale Oval.

2^nd minute: Penalty to Newtown.

3^rd minute: Kurt Kara, Mitch Brown and Jacob Gagan are involved as Matt Evans scores wide out. Try not converted by Mitch Brown. Newtown leads 4-0.

Newtown applies further pressure with kicks from Josh Cleeland.

Penalty to Newtown right on the Manly try-line.

Manly forced to defend for an extended period and then have to take a goal-line drop-out

11^th minute: Arana Taumata puts Jacob Gagan over in the corner, who dives spectacularly to score

Mitch Brown’s conversion attempt is wide. Newtown leads 8-0.

Another penalty to Newtown.

Newtown has virtually monopolised possession for the first 15 minutes

Manly get the ball and make good ground.

21^st minute: Newtown forced into a goal-line drop-out situation

Manly looking good with the ball when they can get possession.

Newtown receives two more penalties for play the ball infringements by Manly

(Rumours sweep through the crowd that Henson Park ground announcer John Lynch has been rushed to Mona Vale Hospital in a near-catatonic state, because Newtown leads the penalty count in a match at Brookvale Oval for the first time in Rugby League history!)

25^th minute: weight of possession tells as Malakai Houma crashes over out wide.

His try was preceded by a passage of inspired ball handling by Newtown.

Mitch Brown’s conversion attempt is unsuccessful. Newtown leads 12-0.

Manly has done a power of defending.

Fa’amanu Brown is on the field for the Jets and Newtown receives another penalty.

30^th minute: Arana Taumata shows, goes and scores. His try is converted by Mitch Brown. Newtown leads 18-0.

32^nd minute: Manly receives a penalty and John Lynch regains consciousness!

Manly receives two more penalties in quick succession and John Lynch declares that “normal service has been resumed”.

34^th minute: A fracas ensues leading to Fabian Goodall (Manly) and Jason Schirnack (Newtown) both being sin-binned.

35^th minute: Manly on the board through a try to Api Koroisau. Not converted. Newtown 18-4.

37^th minute: Kurt Capewell and Josh Cleeland combine, with Josh Gagan scoring from Cleeland’s kick. Not converted. Newtown 22-4.

Half-Time: Newtown 22 v Manly-Warringah 4.

Second Half:

Jason Schirnack (Newtown) and Fabian Goodall (Manly) will still be in the sin-bin for the first four minutes of the second half.

Manly would be fatigued from their first-half tackling workload but they would be aware that Newtown’s 18-4 half-time lead against the New Zealand Warriors on the previous Sunday was overtaken.

Arana Taumata has the ball stripped from him.

Api Koroisau is proving a handful for the Newtown defence.

Manly really applying the pressure but Newtown’s defence holds firm.

50^th minute: Fa’amanu Brown and Josh Cleeland involved as Kurt Capewell scores for Newtown. Try not converted and the Jets lead 26-4.

Both teams turn over possession.

56^th minute: Manly score through Dylan Kelly with Addin Fonua-Blake involved.

Api Koroisau’s conversion attempt hits the upright. Newtown leads 26-8 after 57 minutes.

Mitch Brown catches a spiralling high kick from Isaac John (Manly) while under great pressure.

61^st minute: Mitch Brown takes another high kick while under pressure.

62^nd minute: Jets defence caught napping by Hugh Pratt. Try converted by Api Koroisau. Newtown leads 26-14 with 17 minutes left to play.

Manly looking greatly energised after scoring that try.

Arana Taumata chip-kicks towards the Manly line but the ball is batted dead by the Sea Eagles.

68^th minute: Manly regains the ball when Newtown’s attack breaks down.

70^th minute: Jets on the attack after play sweeps upfield from a quick twenty-metre tap. Several players down with leg cramps.

71^st minute: Jets grubber kick batted dead by Manly.

73^rd minute: Mitch Brown defuses a situation for the Jets.

Manly attacking twenty metres out; penalty to Newtown takes the pressure off.

77^th minute: Penalty to Manly after ball is stripped in a tackle.

78^th minute: Hugh Pratt scores his second try; converted by Api Koroisau. Newtown leads 26-20.

79^th minute: Manly throw the ball about in the last minute; Jets hold onto their lead.

Full-Time: Newtown 26 defeated Manly-Warringah 20.