Jets late surge delivers trial game victory

The Newtown Jets showed considerable spirit in coming from behind to win their final trial match, which was played against Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in hot conditions at Henson Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Jets had trailed 14-0 at halftime and 20-6 after sixty minutes, but then scored four tries in the last twenty minutes to power home to a 26-20 victory.

Newtown’s coach Greg Matterson had given his team an old-fashioned blast at halftime after the Jets had turned in a very average first forty minutes. Newtown’s defence had been poor and their kicking game ineffective. The Sea Eagles had enjoyed a huge surplus of possession and looked to be ready to run away with the game.

The Jets restricted the Sea Eagles to just one try in the third quarter and then scored four tries in the final twenty minutes. Most of this Newtown team are just out of the Jersey Flegg (Under 20s) ranks, and they will take plenty of rugby league lessons out of this game.

Hooker Zac Woolford (formerly with Canterbury and the Knights) played very well in the second half when the Newtown forwards took control. Centre Henry Patterson (from Easts Rugby) scored an outstanding individual try in the 76^th minute that put the Jets in front for the first time in the game.

Newtown’s opening round game in the 2020 Canterbury Cup NSW competition is against South Sydney at the Metricon High Performance Centre (Redfern Oval) on Sunday, 15^th March, with the match timed to commence at 4.00pm.

Details of the Canterbury Cup NSW trial match played at Henson Park on Sunday, 1^st March 2020.

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW

Official Trial Match

Sunday, 1^st March 2020

Henson Park

Newtown v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles

Kick-Off: 2.00pm.

The match was played in two forty-minute halves, with mandatory one minute drinks breaks at the 20 minute and 60 minute marks.

Playing surface: Very good.

Weather: sunny, 29 degrees.

Referees: Cameron Paddy and Clayton Wills

Touch Judges: Adam Reid and Karra-Lee Nolan.

Newtown 26:
Wes Lolo, Monty Raper, Brock Gray, Henry Patterson, Lorenzo Mulitalo tries;

Jonah Ngaronoa 2, Addison Demetriou goals

defeated

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 20:

Pio Nakubuwai, Michael Tupou, Tyler Cassel, Denzal Tonise tries; Alex Seve 2 goals.

Progress scores: –

After 20 minutes: Sea Eagles led 10-0; Half-Time: Sea Eagles led 14-0; after 60 minutes: Sea Eagles led 20-6; Full-Time: Newtown won 26-20.

Newtown’s team was:
Tyla Tamou, Lorenzo Mulitalo, Addison Demetriou, Vito Tevaga, Joshua Delailoa, Jayden Millard, Brandon Finnegan, Wes Lolo, Kyle Patterson, Thomas Hazelton, Matt Stimson, Jayson Bukuya, Kayleb Milne.

Bench:
Isaac Thomson, Connor Luhan, Brock Gray, Zac Woolford, John Olive, Jonah Ngaronoa, Tom Caughlan, Monty Raper, Henry Patterson, Harry McLennan.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (Manly-Warringah’s partnership club in the Canterbury Cup NSW competition):
Blake Clayton, Pio Nakubuwai, Semisi Kioa, Ronny Palumbo, Kenneth Komo, Michael Tupou, Alex Seve, Ben Nakubuwai, Joey Tramontana, Andy Saunders, Tyler Cassel, Samuel Radovu, Mitchell Butfield.

Bench:
Lucas Castle, Matthew Hammond, F J Mauala, Jack Hayson, Topiese Taufa, Tyran Ott, Denzal Tonise, Brodie Christopherson.

Coach: Steve Hale.

In the NSWRL Jersey Flegg curtain-raiser played at Henson Park, Cronulla Sharks defeated Manly-Warringah.

Congratulations to our NSWRL Ron Massey Cup partnership club, the Glebe Dirty Reds, who defeated Wyong 40-22 in the NSWRL Challenge Cup semi-final played on Saturday afternoon at Morrie Breen Oval.
Glebe will play Wentworthville in the final at a venue, date and time to be announced.

Details of Newtown’s first competition game for 2020:

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW

Round One

Sunday, 15^th March 2020

Metricon High Performance Centre (Redfern Oval)

South Sydney v Newtown

Kick-Off: 4.00pm.