Match details
3.00 pm, Saturday, 14 June
Henson Park
NSW Cup ladder [end of last round]
The North Sydney Bears showed why they are the
undefeated VB NSW Cup competition leaders and the 2008 premiership
favourites when they disposed of the second-placed Newtown Jets 46-12
at Henson Park on Saturday.
This season's biggest home crowd watched in dismay
as the Bears ran up a 20-0 halftime lead, and then amassed 4 tries in
the final ten minutes of the game as the Jets' resistance disintegrated.
The resounding victory also delivered the Frank Hyde Shield into the Bears' custody for 2008.
Bears make a strong start
Both sides had late team changes but the Bears
took control right from the kick-off and led 10-0 after 15 minutes.
Norths utilised their faster backrow and backline to their best
advantage and always looked sharper with the ball.
The Bears effectively locked up the result with a
long-distance converted try thirty seconds before halftime, and then
added two more tries in the first fifteen minutes of the second half.
Second half brings Jets little joy
The Jets gained some respectability with two
converted tries midway through the second half but this brief revival
was quickly killed off as Norths piled on the points in the last ten
minutes.
Newtown's kicking game, which had been a decisive
factor in their win against Wentworthville two weeks ago, was nothing
short of wretched on Saturday while match-ending injuries in the first
half to centre Toshio Laiseni and prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala further
hampered the Jets cause.
Coach's assessment
Newtown's coach Greg Matterson said the converted
try right on halftime was a killer blow and that the Jets paid a heavy
price for conceding so much possession to a big, fast side like Norths.
The Bears CEO Greg Florimo noted that, like most
games in this competition, the team that has the greater number of NRL
squad members available on any given day is most likely to dominate the
contest.
Player performances
Newtown's best players were lock and captain Jimmy
Andersen and second-rower Shaun Rudder. The Jets face another tough
assignment next Friday evening (June 20th) when they meet the
much-improved Western Suburbs Magpies at Campbelltown Stadium. This
match kicks off at 6.00pm.
Match summary
Newtown 12
2 tries, 2 goals
North Sydney 46
10 tries, 3 goals
Referee: Gavin Badger
Touch judges: Peter Kirby, Michael Jones
Playing surface: Excellent.
Weather: Cold, overcast and windy.
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