Thursday night timeslot proves just fine for the Jets

Newtown scored five tries to two in beating St George Illawarra 24-12 at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Thursday evening, after leading 8-0 at half-time.

Jets hooker Blayke Brailey had impressed in his debut performance for Newtown last weekend, and he maintained his quality form with another excellent showing yesterday evening. Brailey’s service from dummy-half was crisp and efficient, and he sliced through the Dragons’ defence for an important try in the 60^th minute. Jets lock forward Jack Williams is showing the sort of form that won him awards in his time at the Canberra Raiders.

Newtown had to work hard for this win and only secured the competition points through a try to front-rower Wes Lolo in the 75^th minute.

This match was played as the main curtain-raiser to the Cronulla Sharks-St George Illawarra Dragons NRL local derby, and the Sutherland Shire crowd would have been impressed with the Jets as they wrapped up this result. The Jets won the Tom Kirk Cup last night, with the contest for this trophy continuing on from the previous Newtown Jets-Illawarra matches played between 2013 and 2017.

The Jets’ next match is away to Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles on Sunday, 25^th March at 3.00pm. The extended gap between the second and third rounds could prove to be beneficial as some Jets players pulled up the worse for wear last night.

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership – Second Round

Thursday, 15^th March 2018

Southern Cross Group Stadium, Woolooware

St George Illawarra v Newtown

Kick-Off time was 5.35pm.

Newtown 24:

Scott Sorensen, Will Kennedy, Blayke Brailey, Edrick Lee, Wes Lolo tries;

Jesse Marschke 2 goals

defeated

St George Illawarra 12:

Adam Clune, Jackson Ford tries;

Jai Field 2 goals.

Half-Time: Newtown Jets led 8-0.

Newtown‘s team was:

Will Kennedy, Matt Evans, Jesse Ramien, Reubenn Rennie, Edrick Lee, Jack Williams, Jesse Marschke, Brock Ilett, Blayke Brailey, Wes Lolo, Scott Sorensen (Capt), Briton Nikora, Jack Williams. Interchange: Anthony Moraitis, Jaimin Jolliffe, Ben Marschke, Billy Magoulias. (18th man: Daniel Vasquez). Coach: Greg Matterson.

St George Illawarra:

Jai Field, John Tohi, Patrick Herbert, Matheson Johns, Reuben Garrick, Adam Clune, Darren Nicholls, Mitchell Allgood, Reece Robson, Josh Kerr, James Hasson, Jackson Ford, Blake Lawrie. Interchange: Jack Payne, Damian Sironen, Ashley Nisbet, Stuart Mason TJ Uele. Coach: Mat Head.

Match statistics: –

Completions:

1^st half: Jets 18/23, Dragons 10/16

2^nd half: Jets 13/18, Dragons 10/18

Full-time: Newtown 31/41, Dragons 20/34

Possession:

1^st Half: Jets 59%, Dragons 41%

2^nd half: Jets 54%, Dragons 51%

Full-time: Jets 57%, Dragons 43%.

Penalties:
1^st half: Jets 6-3

2^nd half: Dragons 4-3

Full-time: Jets 9-7.

Referee: Ryan Jackson.

Touch Judges: Mark Bohan and Damian Briscoe.

Playing surface at Southern Cross Group Stadium: Excellent.

Weather: 26 degrees Celsius at 5.30pm. Humidity: 70% Wind: Southerly 20 km/h.