Magpies late field goal forces a draw with error-prone Jets

The Newtown Jets dropped a valuable competition point when they drew 21-all with Western Suburbs, in the twelfth round Knock-On Effect NSW Cup match played at Lidcombe Oval last Sunday.

Although the Magpies were travelling in last place on the competition table, they fielded a significantly stronger team than in previous weeks and were always likely to provide stern opposition to the second-placed Jets.

Newtown led 20-12 at half-time and the match statistics show that they had dominated the first half. The Jets had completed their sets well and had close to 60% of possession. Hooker Jayden Berrell had scored two determined tries and front-rower Caleb Uele had scored one try, with centre Mawene Hiroti converting all three tries and adding a penalty goal.

The second half was a complete turn-around, with Wests dominating possession and making fewer errors than the Jets. The Magpies scored two unconverted tries to pull back to 20-all. Jets five-eighth Rhys Davies snapped a field goal in the 72nd minute, but a Newtown handling error gave Wests possession with two minutes remaining. The Magpies worked the ball downfield and kicked a field goal in the 79th minute to force a 21-all draw.

On balance, Wests clearly had the better of the second half and having scored four tries to three, probably could claim to have been unlucky not to have staged a major upset by beating second-placed Newtown.

Caleb Uele and Jayden Berrell had been the best of Newtown’s forwards, while livewire fullback Lachlan Miller, centre Kayal Iro and halfback Kade Dykes had done all they could to retrieve the situation for the Jets.

The Newtown Jets travel to the National Capital this Sunday for their thirteenth round encounter against the Canberra Raiders. The match is to be played at the GIO Stadium, Canberra on Sunday, 5th June and will kick off at 1.45pm. The Jets remain in second place on the NSW Cup competition table and the Raiders are in seventh position.

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Twelfth Round
Sunday, 29th May 2022

Lidcombe Oval

Western Suburbs v Newtown

Kick-Off: 1.00pm.

Newtown 21:

Jayden Berrell 2, Caleb Uele tries;

Mawene Hiroti 3 conversions, 1 penalty goal;

Rhys Davies 1 field goal
drew with

Western Suburbs 21:
Livai Saukuru, Jacob Liddle, Trey Peni, David Nofoaluma tries;

Jock Madden 2 conversions and 1 field goal.

Half-Time: Newtown led 20-12.

Newtown won the Tom Raudonikis Cup series for 2022.

The Jets had beaten Wests 40-10 back on the 9th April and therefore win the series on the basis of the results of the two games.

Newtown’s team was:
Lachlan Miller
Jonaiah Lualua, Jensen Taumoepeau
Mawene Hiroti, Kayal Iro

Rhys Davies, Kade Dykes
Liam Harris

Myles Taueli, Reubenn Rennie
Jesse Colquhoun, Caleb Uele
Jayden Berrell.
Interchange:
Tyler Slade, Franklin Pele, Vincent Rennie, Tyla Tamou.
18th: Jonah Ngaronoa.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Western Suburbs:
Junior Tupou
David Nofoaluma, Trey Peni
Junior Pauga, Livai Saukuru
Tyrone Peachey, Jock Madden,
Fa’amanu Brown

Henry O’Kane, Tom Fairbairn

Alex Seyfarth, Fonua Pole

Jacob Liddle.
Interchange:

Justin Matamua, Austin Dias, Tukimihia Simpkins, Zane Camroux.
18th: Israel Ogden.

Coach: Wayne Lambkin.

Match Timeline:

12th minute: Caleb Uele try.
14th minute: Mawene Hiroti conversion. Newtown 6-0.

17th minute: Livai Saukuru try.

19th minute: Jock Madden conversion. Newtown and Western Suburbs 6-all.

22nd minute: Jayden Berrell try.

24th minute: Mawene Hiroti conversion. Newtown 12-6.

28th minute: Jayden Berrell try.

29th minute: Mawene Hiroti conversion. Newtown 18-6.
33rd minute: Jacob Liddle try.
35th minute: Jock Madden conversion. Newtown 18-12.

39th minute: Mawene Hiroti penalty goal. Newtown 20-12.
Half-Time: Newtown led 20-12.
42nd minute: Trey Peni try.
44th minute: Not converted. Newtown 20-16.

63rd minute: David Nofoaluma try.
65th minute: Not converted. Newtown and Western Suburbs 20-all.
72nd minute: Rhys Davies field goal. Newtown 21-20.

78th minute: Jock Madden field goal. 21-all.

Full-Time: Newtown and Western Suburbs drew 21-all.

The Match Statistics were:

Completions:
First Half: Newtown 14/16 (88%); Wests 9/14 (64%)

Second Half: Newtown 10/18 (56%); Wests 14/17 (82%)

Full-Time: Newtown 24/34 (71%); Wests 23/31 (74%).

Possession:
First Half: Newtown 70 tackles (59%); Wests 49 tackles (41%)

Second Half: Newtown 58 tackles (41%); Wests 82 tackles (59%).

Full-Time: Newtown 128 tackles (49%); Wests 131 tackles (51%).

Penalties:
First Half: Newtown 3, Wests 0.

Second Half: Newtown 2, Wests 2.
Full-Time: Newtown 5, Wests 2.

Newtown 21: 3 tries, 3 conversions, 1 penalty goal, 1 field goal.
Wests: 4 tries, 2 conversions, 1 field goal.

Half-Time: Newtown led 20-12.

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition ladder after 12 rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=12&season=2022

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Western Suburbs v Newtown match highlights:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/05/30/nsw-cup-highlights-magpies-v-jets-round-12/

Newtown’s next match details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Thirteenth Round
Sunday, 5th June 2022
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Canberra Raiders (7th place) v Newtown (2nd place)
Kick-Off: 1.45pm.