Throw Back Thursday – Premiership Credentials on Show at Mount Pritchard

Each week, thanks to Cryo, we look back at a significant moment in our rich history. Today we remember the first time we played Mounties at this grade.

PREMIERSHIP CREDENTIALS ON SHOW AT MOUNT PRITCHARD

Newtown’s first encounter with the boys from Mount Pritchard in the second grade occurred on 14 April 2012 at the Mount Pritchard Sports Ground, a spartan venue adjacent to the sprawling Mounties Club.

It was a steamy day out in Sydney’s west and (as usual) Newtown came into the game as underdogs. Having entered the NSW Cup on the back of a feeder agreement with the Canberra Raiders, Mounties were bolstered by several players with first-grade experience. Newtown, on the other hand, were fielding a side mainly made up of players who had stepped up from the National Youth Competition as well as a couple of seasoned players in Daniel Mortimer and Mose Masoe.

The first half was a tight affair and the scores remained nil-all up until the 35th minute when the wily Mortimer deceived the Mounties defence and scampered over in the corner. The Jets led 4-0 at the break, but after a rousing halftime speech from coach Greg Matterson, the Blues really stepped on the accelerator during the second stanza, scoring five tries in 25 minutes.

Chunky centre Justin Carney got the ball rolling with his 40-metre dash laying the foundation for a neat try to centre Adam Henry. Next in line were wingers Daniel Tupou and Sami Latu who grabbed a try each, before forwards Isaac Liu and Tom Symonds both charged over.

At the end of this scoring spree, the scoreboard read 30-0 to Newtown, however, the home side managed to save some face when Haydon Hodge crossed for a contentious try with 10 minutes remaining. Aside from a 56-10 hiding delivered to a depleted Wests Magpies, it was the Jets’ biggest win of the season to date and the first real signs of the team’s potential.

As we all know, 2012 was a momentous year for the Jets, as the club went on to win the premiership and there is no doubt that the camaraderie built during this fixture when a long way towards that eventual triumph.

Newtown 30 (D.Mortimer, A.Henry, D.Tupou, S.Latu, I.Liu, T.Symonds tries; J.Littlejohn 3 goals) def. Mounties 4 (H.Hodge try)

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