The Jets have slipped back to ninth place on the VB NSW Cup ladder after narrow loss to the New Zealand Warriors.
In match where the momentum shifted on a number of occasions, the Jets seemed out of sorts when they fell 18-0 behind after the first 12 minutes but a swift response had the teams go to half time with the scores locked after three Newtown tries.
The Warriors again managed to get the jump on the Jets after the break, opening up a 12-point advantage with a little under a quarter of the contest remaining only for Newtown to respond once again.
Two tries late, the first to Corey Brown, the second by Corin Smith made it 30-28 and when the conversion attempt sailed wide it left the Warriors two points in front, a lead they would hold until the fulltime whistle.
While it was an improved performance and a gutsy effort against one of the competition front-runners, the loss has hurt the Jets in relation to their finals aspirations as they will now need to find some winning form over the closing five rounds in they hope to contest the big games in September.
A positive to come from the game on Saturday was the Newtown debut of young backrower Myles Taueli who certainly impressed on his first outing.
A Penrith junior, Taueli was signed by Cronulla-Sutherland in the off-season, selected in the NSW Under 20’s State of Origin emerging squad and was primed for a big season in the Sharks NYC team.
He has endured a disrupted 2015 season and Saturday’s game with Newtown in the NSW Cup was his first competition game for the year.
Taueli reminded Jets officials of former forwards Anthony Cherrington and Dylan Napa.
Newtown’s team was:
Daniel Abou-Sleiman, Corey Brown, Blake Ayshford, Sami Sauiluma, Corin Smith, Gerard McCallum, Todd Murphy, Tim Robinson, Tarek El Masri, Patrice Siolo, Saulala Houma, Pat Politoni, Kurt Dillon.
Bench: Andrew Pearn, Kurt Kara, Ray Moujalli, Myles Taueli.
Coach: Greg Matterson.
The New Zealand Warriors team was:
Viliami Kaveinga, Tomas Aoake, Matthew Allwood, Marata Niukore, Saula Solomona, Mafoa’alata Hingano, Mason Lino, David Bhana, John Palavi (Capt), Dominique Peyroux, Upu Poching, Nathaniel Roache, Sam Rapira.
Bench: James Bell, Patrick Sipley, Kouma Samson, Levi Norton.
Coach: Stacey Jones.
New Zealand Warriors 30
Saula Solomona 2, Dominique Peyroux 2, John Palavi tries; Mason Lino 5 goals
defeated
Newtown 28
Kurt Kara 2, Tim Robinson, Corey Brown, Corin Smith tries;
Todd Murphy 4 goals.
Timeline for last Saturday’s match against the New Zealand Warriors
4th minute: Saula Solomona try, Mason Lino converted from the sideline. New Zealand Warriors 6-0.
8th minute: Saula Solomona try, and Mason Lino converts again from virtually on the sideline. New Zealand Warriors 12-0.
12th minute: Dominique Peyroux try, Mason Lino converts. New Zealand Warriors 18-0.
18th minute: Tim Robinson try, Todd Murphy converted. New Zealand Warriors 18-6.
28th minute: Kurt Kara try, Todd Murphy converted. New Zealand Warriors 18-12.
34th minute: Kurt Kara try, Todd Murphy converted. 18-all.
Half-Time: 18-all.
51st minute: Dominique Peyroux try, Mason Lino converted. New Zealand Warriors 24-18.
54th minute: New Zealand Warriors have a try disallowed because of a shepherd.
60th minute: Newtown has a try disallowed because of a shepherd.
62nd minute: John Palavi try, Mason Lino converted. New Zealand Warriors 30-18.
65th minute: Corey Brown try, Todd Murphy converted. New Zealand Warriors 30-24.
73rd minute: Corin Smith try, not converted. New Zealand Warriors 30-28.
Full-Time: New Zealand Warriors 30-28.
The NSWRL VB NSW Cup competition table after 21 rounds is as follows: http://www.nswrl.com.au/seniors/vb-nsw-cup/ladder.html
Other 21st round NSW Cup results:
Illawarra Cutters 22 defeated Penrith 18; North Sydney 36 defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 16.
The Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers, Wyong, Manly-Warringah, Mounties and Wentworthville all had byes.
Details of Newtown’s next game:
NSWRL VB NSW Cup – 22nd Round
Wests Tigers v Newtown
Saturday, 8th August 2015
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-Off: 10.40am.
This match is being telecast live on Fox Sports.
The unusual kick-off time is because of Fox Sports NYC and NRL television commitments in New Zealand next Saturday.
Newtown’s next home game at Henson Park is on the 15th August against Penrith at 3.00pm
Photo courtesy - Mario Facchini – Maf Photography
