Match details
4.00 pm, Sunday, 21 February
Henson Park
Meet the players
Match summary
Newtown 4 [Troy Savage try]
Western Suburbs 24 [5 tries, 2 goals]
A week is a long time in football too
The heatwave conditions clearly didn't suit the Newtown Jets as they turned on a lethargic display in losing 24-4 to the Western Suburbs Magpies, in the NSW Cup trial match played at Henson Park on Sunday afternoon.
Newtown's enthusiasm and sharpness of the previous weekend was just a memory as the Magpies took control of the game in the first quarter and never let the Jets back into the contest.
Wests dominated the battle of the rucks and they rattled Newtown's midfield defence with repeated darting runs from dummy-half. The Magpies shrugged off the sweltering heat as they ran away to a convincing five tries to one victory.
Wests led 4-0 after twenty minutes, 16-0 at half-time, 24-4 at three-quarter-time and there were no points scored by either side in the final quarter as both sides struggled to cope with the energy-sapping atmosphere.
Coach's assessment
Newtown's Greg Matterson acknowledged that while this was only a lost trial game, there was a lot of improvement needed and hard work ahead of this squad to be ready for round one of the NSW Cup competition.
Matterson conceded that this had been a disappointing performance and a number of players had not enhanced their ultimate selection chances. The 'Pies certainly provided an abrupt and timely reality check following Newtown's impressive trial win against Norths.
Next week
The Jets face another stern pre-season assessment next weekend when they take on the 2009 NSW Cup premiers, Canterbury-Bankstown, next Saturday, 27 February, at Henson Park at 5.00pm.
There's a full afternoon's program of Rugby League at Henson Park next Saturday with curtain-raiser matches commencing at 12 noon.
The Sydney Roosters play the South-Western Academy in the Harold Matthews Cup and the Melbourne Storm in the SG Ball Cup, followed by Canterbury and Canberra in an NRL Toyota Cup trial at 3.00pm. The Jets and the Bulldogs square off in the NSW Cup trial match at 5.00pm.
Who played
Fullback | Drew Lanston |
Wingers | Troy Savage [T1], Richard Kambo |
Centres | Paul Kiely, Tu'u Maori |
Halves | Jason Wells, Charlie Herekotukutuku |
Lock | Anaru Grant |
Back row | Chris Afamasaga, Dylan Sharp |
Front row | Ray Moujalli, Ryan Verlinden |
Hooker | Keith Peters |
Interchange
Tommy Cremona, Brett Fitzpatrick, James Koloamatangi, Ben Darcy, Guy Lanston,
Justin Coveney, Tim Weyman, Mason Pure, Khalid Deeb, Brad Barrett
Next Saturday, 27 February, at Henson Park
Newtown v Canterbury-Bankstown at 5pm
Curtain-Raisers
12 noon: Harold Matthews - Sydney Roosters v South-West Sydney Academy
1.30pm: SG Ball - Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm
3.00pm: Toyota Cup trial - Canterbury-Bankstown v Canberra
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