Jets stage a second half fightback to draw with the Bulldogs

Details of the Newtown-Canterbury ISP NSW 12th round match played at Henson Park on Saturday, 27th May 2017.

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – 12^th round

Saturday, 27^th May 2017

Henson Park

Newtown v Canterbury-Bankstown

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

The match was broadcast live on: www.steelesports.com.au

Referee: Ryan Jackson. Touch Judges: Kieren Irons and John Woods.

Playing surface: Very good.

Weather: Fine, sunny, 21 degrees.

Newtown 26:

Jayden McDonogh, Leigh Higgins, Manaia Cherrington, Kenny Niko, Saulala Houma tries;

Matt Evans 3 goals

drew with

Canterbury-Bankstown 26:

Lachlan Lewis 2, Rod Griffin, Reimis Smith, Tyrone Phillips tries;

Chase Stanley 3 goals.

Half-Time: Canterbury led 18-6.

Newtown’s team was:

Matt Evans, James Tuitahi, Jordan Drew, Kenny Niko, Jordan Topai-Aveai, Leigh Higgins, Penani Manumalealii, Jayden McDonogh, Jack Williams, Jayden Walker, Kurt Dillon, Kurt Kara, Jaimin Jolliffe.

Bench: Tepatasi Fuiavailili, Saulala Houma, Manaia Cherrington, Luke Towers.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Canterbury-Bankstown:

Josh Bergamin, Reimis Smith, Richie Kennar, Chase Stanley, Tyrone Phillips, Josh Cleeland, Lachlan Lewis, Rod Griffin, Bronson Garlick, Michael Morgan, Andy Saunders, Zac Woolford, Ray Moujalli.

Bench: Darcy Maroske, Lachlan Lee, Tom Carr, Siaopo Tagaloa, Jerry Leasi.

Coach: Steve Georgallis.

Match timeline: –

First Half:

Newtown kicked off to the southern end.

3^rd min: Lachlan Lewis try, conv by Chase Stanley

Canterbury 6-0

5^th min: Penalty to Newtown 35 m out from their own tryline

6^th min: Manumalealii’s grubber kick taken dead by a Bulldogs defender

Goal-line drop-out by Canterbury

Jets make a break up the left edge but lose the ball early in the set

8^th min: Another penalty to Newtown, this time 10 m out from their own line

10^th min: Jets move the ball at speed but Niko is tackled out over the sideline, 20 m out from Canterbury’s tryline

11^th min: ‘Dogs grubber kick into the north-east corner runs dead

13^th min: ‘Dogs trapped in their own in-goal and they take a goal-line drop-out

Both teams are getting attacking opportunities at their opponents end

Higgins drives hard for the ‘Dogs line but is tackled just short

16^th min: ‘Dogs go very close but stopped by good defence.

In the next ruck, a CB pass goes forward

‘Dogs starting to make more ground up the middle through their forwards

19^th min: Jets kick into sth west corner goes dead

It has been a fairly even contest between the two teams after 25 mins

26^th min: Jets mount an attack

Manumalealii delivers a crisp pass that sends Jayden McDonogh straight through a gap to score 10 m to the right of the southern posts

27^th min: Conv by Evans. 6-all

Jayden Walker has gone to the head-bin

Saulala Houma is on and looks to be adding some muscle to the Jets attack

Jets go close again in sth east corner but the ball goes loose

Pen to CB on halfway in 28^th min which gives ‘Dogs a good platform

They lose the ball cold when in a good attacking position

31^st min: Pen to Newtown 40 m out from their own line

32^nd min: Jets make a break, lose the ball and then give a penalty away 30 m out from ‘Dogs line

‘Dogs forwards starting to get the upper hand

33^rd min: ‘Dogs lose the ball when in another good attacking position 10 m out from Newtown’s line

(The legendary Race Caller, Paul Clarke, was in full voice in front of the canteen block, calling on the Jets to perform the most unlikely on-field feats!)

Jets knock on a high kick in 35^th min which gifts CB another favourable attacking platform

37^th min: Predictably the ‘Dogs score in the next set after several strong drives by the forwards

Rod Griffin the try-scorer; conv by Stanley CB 12-6 after 38 mins

‘Dogs mount an attack in the last minute and turn on their best movement of the half, scoring in the nth west corner with 30 seconds left

Stanley conv from the sideline

Half-Time: CB leads 18-6

Penani Manumalealii is off with head knock

Walker won’t be returning

Newtown will be down to two on the bench in the second half

Second Half:

‘Dogs kick off to southern end.

45^th min: CB score in sth west corner from a fairly orthodox passing movement

Tyrone Phillips the try-scorer, not conv, CB 22-6.

47^th min: CB knock on the kick-off

Newtown get across the line but can’t ground the ball

48^th min: Manaia Cherrington strikes from dummy-half and scores under the northern goal posts

49^th min: Conv by Evans, CB 22-12

52^nd min” ‘Dogs on the attack, looking to land a killer blow

Lachlan Lewis scores in sth-east corner

Stanley doesn’t convert

55^th: CB leads 26-12 and it looks grim for the Jets

CB on the attack again and somehow the Jets defensive line holds

56^th: ‘Dogs attack again but a wild pass flies out over the eastern touchline

60^th: Cherrington makes a dashing midfield break, backed up by Leigh Higgins who scores in nth east corner

Not conv by Evans, CB 26-16

Suddenly the door is open again.

64^th: Jets attacking in CB 20 metres, and the ‘Dogs are forced into a goal-line drop-out

66^th: Jets attack again and force another goal-line drop-out

The big Berries forwards are starting to feel the pinch

68^th: Quick hands by Jets to the right and Kenny Niko scores in nth-east corner

Not conv, CB 26-20 with 11 to go

‘dogs forwards feeling the lash on their backs

CB lose the ball in 71^st min, 25 m out from their own line

72^nd min: Smart inside ball from Cherrington and big Saulala Houma steam-rolls his way over to score under the posts

Crowd on the hill goes troppo

73^rd: Evans converts, it’s 26-all

Steele Sports claim that “Newtown is starting to own the middle third”

Kurt Kara makes a break but his inside pass goes to ground

75^th: ‘Dogs get a set on halfway and then get a scrum-feed 10 m out from Jets line

Newtown defends this crucial set

78^th min: Jets shift the ball towards CB end of field

Jets have the ball with 40 seconds left

Penalty to Newtown 40 m out and nearly in midfield

Siren sounds

Matt Evans long-distance penalty goal attempt drifts wide

‘Dogs catch the ball and throw it about but play breaks down on half-way line.

Full-Time: 26-all.

Coach Matterson’s post-match comments:

We need to tidy up in several areas

At 26-12 we looked to be out of the game

Should have got home but lacked steadiness and composure in crucial final minutes

Some individuals need to work on their own skill sets

Errors made inside our own 20 proved to be costly.

Photos taken by Mario Facchini:  http://mafphotography.blogspot.com/2017/05/intrust-super-premiership-2017-round-12.html?spref=tw

You Tube post-match interviews:

Jaimin Jolliffe: https://youtu.be/A5-BaYQkUjw

Luke Towers:  https://youtu.be/npEbWA4gr7Q

Matt Evans:   https://youtu.be/w38KfVZI7VY