The Jets grab two valuable points in a game that could have gone either way

There’s plenty of improvement needed in this year’s Jets ISP NSW team, but no-one is arguing about accepting the points for Saturday’s win against Wests Tigers.

The Jets left it late to secure this win. Wests Tigers led 24-20 with six minutes left to play when the Jets put on what was probably the best try of the game to draw level at 24-all. Fa’amanu (Nu) Brown converted from the sideline to give Newtown a two-point lead.

NSWRL ISP NSW – 4^th Round

Saturday, 25^th March 2017

Campbelltown Stadium

Wests Tigers v Newtown

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Newtown 26:

James Tuitahi 2, Matt Evans, Tony Williams, Jayden Walker tries;

Fa’amanu Brown 3 conversions

defeated

Wests Tigers 24:

Jeremy Marshall-King 2, Nathan Milone, Jack Littlejohn tries;

Jordan Rankin 3 conversions, 1 penalty goal.

Half-Time: Wests Tigers led 18-10.

Referee: Drew Oultram.

Touch Judges: Darren Burtenshaw and Mark Bohan.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Overcast, grey and cloudy.

Temperature: 24 degrees Celsius.

Humidity: 67%.

Newtown’s team was:

Leigh Higgins, Matt Evans, Jesse Ramien, Jordan Drew, James Tuitahi, Penani Manumalealii, Fa’amanu Brown, Jack Williams, Jayden Walker, Tony Williams, Kurt Dillon, Kurt Kara, Sam Tagataese.

Bench: Jaimin Jolliffe, Manaia Cherrington, Saulala Houma, Kenny Niko.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Wests Tigers:

Watson Heleta, Nathan Milone, Jamal Idris, Luke Garner, Ryland Jacobs, Jack Littlejohn, Jordan Rankin, Kyle Lovett, Matt Eisenhuth, Bayley Sironen, Jacob Felise, Jeremy Marshall-King, Tevita Tatola.

Bench: Wesley Lolo, Jordan Grant, Darcy Cox, Jackson Williams.

Coach: David Heath.

Match timeline:

First half:

Wests Tigers kicked off, running to the northern end.

5^th min: Fa’amanu Brown kicks to the left-hand side, gathered in at top speed by <Matt Evans who scored in the south-east corner.

Not converted. Newtown 4-0.

8^th min: Jets go close again in the south-east corner.

12^th min: Wests tigers had extended possession at Newtown’s end. A kick into the in-goal is secured by Marshall-King who scored 10 m to the left of the northern goal-posts.

Converted by Jordan Rankin. West Tigers 6-4.

20m: Tony Williams and Sam Tagataese make good metres for Newtown.

21^st min: Tony Williams powers his way over to the left of the southern goal-posts.

Nu Brown converted.  Newtown 10-6.

26^th min: Great catch by James Tuitahi under pressure right on his own tryline.

Jets indiscipline gives penalties and Wests Tigers make their way to Newtown’s end.

27^th min: Try to Nathan Milone in nth west corner, good pass from Jamal Idris.

Converted from the sideline by Jordan Rankin.

29^th min: Wests Tigers 12-10.

32^nd min: Jack Littlejohn breaks through several ordinary tackle attempts and scores in the nth west corner. Not converted. Wests Tigers 16-10.

Jets sideline crew not all that sure that Littlejohn grounded the ball before being tackled out.

38^th min: Wests Tigers full of enthusiasm thanks to repeat sets and penalties at Newtown’s end.

Penalty goal to Rankin in the 39^th min. Wests Tigers 18-10.

Half-Time: Wests Tigers 18-10.

Jack Williams is off the field with injury, doesn’t resume in the second half.

Wests Tigers led 7-4 in penalties. They had 71 plays with the ball compared to Newtown’s 58. Newtown missed 16 tackles in the first half.

Second half:

Good lead-up work by Tony Williams, Leigh Higgins and Penani Manumalealii for James Tuitahi to score in the nth east corner.

Brown’s conversion attempt from the sideline hits the left hand upright and bounces away.

Wests Tigers lead 18-14.

54^th min: Wests Tigers over Newtown tryline but held up.

56^th min: WT forced into a goal-line drop-out.

57^th min: Controlled grubber-kick by Nu Brown, Jayden Walker seizes the ball and scores to the left of the posts. Converted by Nu Brown.

Newtown leads again 20-18.

65^th min: Tony Williams charges down a WT kick and regathers, a great effort for a big man.

67^th min: Try to Marshall-King to the right of southern posts.

Converted by Rankin. Wests Tigers back in the lead 24-20.

Second half has seen plenty of ball movement by both teams. Plenty of excitement for spectators.

7mins to go: Midfield to Jets. They need to get maximum value from this set.

74^th min: Jets move the ball right; long cut-out pass by Manumalealii. Tuitahi takes the ball at top speed and scores in the nth east corner.

Converted by Nu Brown from the sideline. Newtown hits the front 26-24.

3 mins to go: WT in possession and prepared to throw the ball around.

78^th min: Nu Brown kicks safely for the left-hand sideline.

90 seconds left: WT have the ball again but Jets hold on for an important win.

Full-Time: Newtown wins 26-24.

Completions for the game: Newtown 31/36; Wests Tigers 28/35. Penalties 8-all. Jets have a high missed tackle count (33).

Ryan Selvage from the NSWRL interviewed big Sam Tagataese after the game:  http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/03/26/tagataese_there_s_pr.html

How the NSWRL reported on the game:  http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/03/25/jets_rise_late_to_ex.af_intrust-super-premiership-nsw_news1.html

All the 4^th round ISP NSW match results plus the updated competition table:  http://live.nswrl.com.au/comp/3ec60a38ee446fb80

The New Zealand website Kiwi Central interviews Malakai Houma:  http://www.kiwileaguecentral.com/latest/malakai-houma-qa/

Newtown Jets TV interview with Tony Williams:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDL1XDHa9Bs

Newtown Jets TV interview with Fa’amanu Brown:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsHoJKNK2Ow

Newtown Jets TV interview with Greg Matterson:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc4GPcCwXws

Newtown’s next match details:

NSWRL ISP NSW – 5^th Round

Saturday, 1^st April 2017

Southern Cross Group Stadium

Newtown v Newcastle Knights

Kick-Off: 12.40pm

This match will be televised live on Fox Sports.