Match details
3.00 pm, Saturday, 16 May
Henson Park
Meet the players
Photographic highlights
The Henson Park horror show continues …
The Newtown Jets plumbed new depths as they crashed to a massive 60-10 defeat at the hands of Wentworthville in the NSW Cup match played at Henson Park on Saturday.
It was scarcely credible that the two Grand Finalists from 2008 were on show, such was the difference in application and execution between the two sides in the first half.
In the interests of fairness, it should be noted that Newtown had only two players remaining from last year's premiership decider in their 17 man squad on Saturday and that there had been a number of late changes made to the team that ultimately took the field in Saturday's match.
Wentworthville, the Parramatta Eels feeder club in the NSW Cup competition, scored in the first ten seconds of play as the Jets made a disastrous opening to the match. The proverbial floodgates opened and by halftime Wentworthville had amassed a 46-0 lead, as Newtown's club historians braced themselves for a probable club record losing margin.
The Jets managed to claw back some semblance of respectability in the second half, scoring two tries through winger, Sonny Tuigamala, and clever five-eighth, Sean Rudder, while restricting Wentworthville to a relatively-modest additional 14 points.
Coach's assessment
Newtown's coach, Greg Matterson, regarded the performance as completely unacceptable but his ability to make changes will be restricted by the heavy injury toll within the Sydney Roosters NRL ranks.
Matterson singled out rookie prop, Moses Manu, for praise, saying that here was a player making his debut in professional Rugby League who kept trying all afternoon. Former Auckland Warriors Toyota Cup backrower, Scott Jones, also worked hard, while five-eighth, Sean Rudder, and fullback, Smith Samau, were the best of Newtown's backs.
Update on our SG Ball players
There was further sad news from the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon where boom backrower, Boyd Cordner, who had recently won the best and fairest award in Newtown's 2009 SG Ball Cup team, suffered a badly broken jaw while playing for the Sydney Roosters Toyota Cup team against the Newcastle Knights.
Cordner had been named in the provisional NSW under 18's squad and was also right in line for Australian Schoolboys selection. Another Newtown SG Ball Cup product in Ethan Lowe played solidly in the Roosters' Toyota Cup victory over the Knights.
Match summary
Newtown 10 [Sean Rudder, Sonny Tuigamala tries; Sonny Tuigamala goal]
Wentworthville 60 [11 tries;8 goals]
Half-Time: Wentworthville led 46-0.
Next match
Life doesn't get any easier for the beleaguered Newtown Jets as they face up to a six day turnaround and a formidable away assignment against the NSW Cup competition leaders Western Suburbs. The Jets take on the Magpies next Friday, 22 May, at Campbelltown Stadium with this match timed to start at 3.15pm. Wests Tigers are at home to the Broncos in the Toyota Cup and the NRL later in the same evening.
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