The Jets graft out a valuable win in tough circumstances

A hard-fought win against tough and determined opposition.

NSWRL ISP NSW – Round One

Sunday, 5^th March 2017

H E Laybutt Field, Blacktown

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles v Newtown

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

The game was broadcast live by Hawkesbury Radio 89.9 FM.

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles is a joint venture Intrust Super Premiership NSW club between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles RLFC and Blacktown Workers RLFC.

Newtown 16:

Daniel Mortimer, Manaia Cherrington tries;

Joseph Paulo 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals

defeated

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (BWSE) 14:

Jonathan Wright, Peter Schuster, Cameron Cullen tries;

Joey Lussick 1 conversion.

Half-Time: BWSE led 10-6.

Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Touch Judges: Matt Damaso and Adam Reid.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Steady showers in the first half, clearing in the second half, 24 degrees Celsius.

Newtown‘s team:

Leigh Higgins, Matt Evans, Kurt Capewell, Kenny Niko, Jordan Topai-Aveai, Jason Schirnack, Daniel Mortimer, Joseph Paulo, Tony Williams, Jayden Walker, Kurt Dillon, Jeremy Latimore, Manaia Cherrington.

Bench: Jack Williams, Alec Bush, Jaimin Jolliffe, Malakai Houma. Coach: Greg Matterson.

The inaugural BWSE team was:

Pita Godinet, Viliame Kaveinga, Matthew Wright, Jonathan Wright, Peter Schuster, Cameron Cullen, Jackson Hastings, B J Attwood, Pat Mataele, Jamil Hopoate, Tom Amone, Jake Samoa, Joey Lussick.

Bench: Kyle Eather, Jerry Key, Tyler Cassel, Nick Kassis. Coach: Pat Weisner.

Match timeline: –

First Half:

This was the debut ISP NSW match for the BWSE joint venture, and the match was being played at a venue that most Newtown Jets players would have been totally unfamiliar with.

BWSE kick off with Newtown defending the southern end in the first half.

9^th min: Try to BWSE centre Jonathan Wright 6 m in from the south-east touchline. Converted by Joey Lussick.

BWSE 6-0.

19^th min: Try to Daniel Mortimer next to the right-hand upright. Converted by Joseph Paulo (who captained the USA Tomahawks in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup).

6-all.

33^rd min: Try to winger Peter Schuster 7m in from the south-east corner. Not converted.

BWSE 10-6.

Half-Time: BWSE lead 10-6.

Second Half:

49^th min: Five-eighth Cameron Cullen scores in the north-west corner. Not converted.

BWSE 14-6.

In these weather conditions and on this special occasion for the home team, 14-6 could well be a match-winning lead.

55^th min: Hooker Manaia Cherrington scores from dummy-half 10 m to the left of the uprights. Converted by Joseph Paulo.

BWSE lead 14-12.

61^st min: Penalty goal kicked by Joseph Paulo.

14-all.

73^rd min: Huge crunching tackle by Jets centre Kenny Niko gives Newtown possession in the BWSE half.

75^th min: Penalty goal kicked by Joseph Paulo.

Newtown leads 16-14.

This is the first time the Jets have led in the entire game.

Jets defend on their own line for the last two sets.

BWSE lose the ball in the final seconds.

Full Time: Newtown has won a thrilling match 16-14.

Greg Matterson (Newtown’s coach) made these post-match comments: “That was a tough win. We dug deep when we most needed to”.

A valuable first-up win to the Newtown Jets in tough circumstances. Hopefully this will be a valuable team-building exercise for 2017.

How the NSWRL reported on this match:  http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/03/05/blacktown_v_newtown_.html

Here are the extremely well-compiled NSWRL match statistics:  http://www.nswrl.com.au/content/dam/nswrl/documents/isp-stats-reports-2017/Rd1-SeaEaglesJets.pdf

And here is a very fine article about Daniel Mortimer and his special relationship with the Newtown Jets:  http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/03/06/mortimer_right_at_ho.html

Newtown Jets next match details:

NSWRL ISP NSW – Round Two

Saturday, 11^th March 2017

Aubrey Keech Reserve, Hinchinbrook

Mounties v Newtown Jets

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.