Match details
3.00 pm, Saturday, 12 September
The Crest Stadium, Bass Hill
Meet the players
Photographic highlights
NSW Cup ladder [end of last round]
The Newtown Jets have been eliminated from the 2009 NSW Cup finals following their 52-30 loss to Bankstown City on Saturday.
The Jets had led 18-14 at halftime and kicked away to a 24-14 lead early in the second half, but the Bulldogs reserves and minor premiers took full control for a twenty-minute period in which they piled on five converted tries that effectively ended the contest.
Sides traded tries in first half
Jets winger, Smith Samau, scored Newtown's first try when he outleaped his opponents to catch a perfectly-placed high kick to his corner from halfback Liam Foran.
Lock, Nick Kouparitsas, scored three minutes later when he burst on to a well-directed pass from hooker, Sean Rudder.
Bankstown began to dominate possession and territory courtesy of Newtown's penalties and handling errors but they had to work hard to breach the Jets' online defence.
City's prolonged possession in the heatwave conditions eventually took its toll on the Newtown defenders with Bankstown scoring three tries to move to a 14-10 lead.
The Jets edged back in front when impact forward, James Koloamatangi, charged in under the posts thanks to a slick pass from Nick Kouparitsas.
In the wake of a wild melee just prior to halftime, Koloamatangi and Bankstown's Matt Utai were both sin-binned and Jets five-eighth, Tu'U Maori, kicked a penalty goal to give Newtown an 18-14 lead.
Hopes rose and then faded after halftime
The Jets extended this lead early in the second half when tenacious hooker, Tavite Vatuvei, burrowed over after front-rower, Ray Moujalli, had ripped through City's defensive line.
The Bulldogs reserves stamped their authority on the game from this point as the Jets conceded penalties, their completion rate deteriorated and their fringe defence began to fray.
Bankstown laid on five unanswered converted tries to take an unassailable 44-24 lead which guaranteed Newtown's exit from the competition.
The Jets replied with a try to fullback, Donny Thompson, following a well-worked scrumbase move with five-eighth, Tu'U Maori. Bankstown added two unconverted tries in the last ten minutes of the game.
The season in review
Saturday's comprehensive defeat brought to an end what has been a long, tough season for the Jets, who did well to qualify for the finals after such a wretched start to the competition.
Midway through the premiership rounds the Jets looked to be certainties for the wooden spoon but they recovered with a run of wins against several of the eventual finalists.
Coach's comments and player performances
Coach Greg Matterson commended his players on Saturday's effort but conceded that they had been blown away in that critical phase of the second half by opponents with a lot of firepower and scoring potential.
Newtown's errors had proven costly and once Bankstown gained a larger share of possession they had the class of player who could ramp up the pace and drive home the advantage.
Newtown's best players were forwards James Koloamatangi, Sean Rudder, Kyle Lodge, Ray Moujalli and Jimmy Andersen.
Ball-playing lock, Nick Kouparitsas, broke his wrist just before halftime and didn't play in the second half. The Fijian "battering ram" prop, Stanley Waqa, had been named to play but was ruled unfit because of a back injury sustained in the final NRL competition round.
The date and venue of the annual presentation night will be announced later this week.
Match summary
Newtown Jets 30 [Smith Samau, Nick Kouparitsas, James Koloamatangi, Tavite Vatuvei, Don Thompson tries; Tu'U Maori 4 goals, 1 penalty goal]
Bankstown City Bulls 52 [10 tries; 6 goals]
Halftime: Newtown led 18-14
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