No luck for the Jets in Frank Hyde Shield deciding match

The Newtown Jets have relinquished possession of the coveted Frank Hyde Shield for the first time since 2012, in going down 22-8 to the North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.

The Bears dominated possession and field position in the first half and by rights should have led by more than 14-4 at half-time. Newtown narrowed this deficit to 14-8 with twenty minutes left to play, and were denied a try in a controversial decision with just twelve minutes remaining.

Norths ensured their win when they extended their lead with a try three minutes later, and then added another right on full-time. The Jets did well to stay in this contest as they had to cope with several late changes to their team line-up. The windy conditions made life difficult for the goal-kickers in both teams, with seven tries being scored in total and only one converted.

Newtown players who were unavailable for Sunday’s game either through injuries in the Cronulla Sharks NRL or Jets ranks included winger Sione Katoa, centre Ronaldo Mulitalo, utility forward Billy Magoulias and second-rower Siosifa Talakai. Team captain Jack A. Williams was injured in yesterday’s game at North Sydney Oval.

The Hyde family was well represented at yesterday’s deciding match for the 2019 Frank Hyde Shield. Frank’s three sons – Greg, Mike and Patrick – were all present, along with one of his daughters Maria. The family members complimented both clubs on the continuing high quality of the presentation of the Frank Hyde Shield games each year. As previously mentioned, this was North Sydney’s first victory in the Shield series since 2012.

The Jets travel to Auckland next weekend to take on the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, 20^th July in Round 18 of the Canterbury Cup NSW competition.

Yesterday’s match details:

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW – 17^th Round

Sunday, 14^th July 2019

North Sydney Oval

North Sydney v Newtown

The match kicked off at 1.10pm and was televised live on Channel 9.

Referee: Adam Gee.

Assistant Referee: Drew Oultram.

Touch Judges: Jeff Younis and Mitchell Stone.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Sunny; 16 degrees; blustery, cold wind.

North Sydney 22:
Billy Smith 3, Bradley Deitz, Matt Ikuvalu tries;

Brock Lamb 1 goal

defeated

Newtown 8:

Jackson Ferris, Tyla Tamou tries.

Half-Time: North Sydney led 14-4.

Newtown’s team:

Will Kennedy, Chris Tupou, Latrell Schaumkel, Jackson Ferris, Jack A. Williams (Capt), Luke Polselli, Daniel Vasquez, Teig Wilton, Scott Sorensen, Wes Lolo, Braydon Trindall, Jimmy Jolliffe.

Bench: Josh Carr, Kayleb Milne, Grant Garvey, Greg Eastwood.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

North Sydney:
Kieren Moss, Matt Ikuvalu, James Tuitahi, Billy Smith, Bernard Lewis, Lachlan Lam, Brock Lamb, Jerry Key, Drew Hutchison, Tom Freebairn (Capt), Lindsay Collins, Bradley Deitz, Max Bailey.

Bench: Elih Jackson, Ben Thomas, John Tuivaiti, Fletcher Baker.

Coach: Jason Taylor.

Some statistics from the game:

North Sydney had 58% of possession overall and missed three try-scoring chances in the first half.

Norths had 70% completions overall and Newtown 74%.

Norths made 287 tackles in the match and Newtown 322.

Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW – 18^th round

Saturday, 20^th July 2019

Mt Smart Stadium

New Zealand Warriors v Newtown

Kick-Off: 10.00am (AEST).

This Canterbury Cup match is to be preceded by the New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg Cup fixture at 8.00am (AEST).

The New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla Sharks NRL fixture is to be played at Westpac Stadium, Wellington on Friday, 19^th July at 6.00pm (AEST).