After three difficult weeks where the Jets found themselves decimated by injury and player unavailability, they managed to bounce back in style with a gritty 32-14 win over the North Sydney Bears at their last start.
The Jets welcomed the return of a number of key players after the Sharks had called on five of their regulars the previous week, with the steadying influence of the likes of Mitch Brown and Matt McIlwrick helping to get them over the line.
This week they face another match which will have a crucial bearing on their finals aspirations when they take on the fourth-placed Wests Tigers.
Sitting just one position and one point behind the Tigers, a win would propel the Jets into the top four and have them well placed as the competition now moves into the business end.
The Jets v Tigers game is scheduled for a 3.00pm kick-off at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.
See the team list below, along with a recap of the Jets last start victory over the Bears, courtesy of Newtown Jets Media.
ISP TEAM LIST – Round 20
Jets v Tigers
Saturday, July 23
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off – 3.00pm
1 Mitch Brown ©
2 Travis Robinson
3 Jordan Drew
4 Matt Evans
5 Jacob Gagan
6 Kurt Kara
7 Josh Cleeland
8 Junior Roqica
9 Matt McIlwrick
10 Jesse Sene-Lefao
11 Malakai Houma
12 Kurt Capewell
13 Anthony Moraitis
Interchange
14 Jason Schirnack
15 Jaline Graham
16 Kurt Dillon
17 Saulala Houma
20 Harrison Muller
24 Ahmad Ellaz
By Newtown Jets Media
Newtown’s strong second half puts them one-up in the 2016 Frank Hyde Shield series.
Newtown defeated North Sydney 32-14 at North Sydney Oval on Sunday afternoon, but had trailed the Bears 14-0 after 30 minutes and 14-6 at half-time. Two converted tries and two penalty goals put the Jets in front 22-14 in the 67th minute, and they finally ensured this much-needed win with a try in the 76th minute and another right on full-time.
Newtown 32
Matt Evans 2, Mitch Brown, Saulala Houma, Jacob Gagan tries; Kurt Capewell 4 conversions, 2 penalty goals
defeated
North Sydney 14
Piki Rogers, Latrell Robinson tries; Eli Levido 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal.
Half-Time: North Sydney led 14-6.
Newtown’s team on Sunday was:
Mitch Brown (Capt), Travis Robinson, Jordan Drew, Matt Evans, Jacob Gagan, Kurt Kara, Josh Cleeland, Anthony Moraitis, Malakai Houma, Kurt Capewell, Junior Roqica, Matt McIlwrick, Jesse Sene-Lefao. Bench: Kurt Dillon, Jaimin Jolliffe, Lachlan Stein, Saulala Houma.
Coach: Greg Matterson.
North Sydney
Sitiveni Moceidreke, Dane Nielsen, Latrell Robinson, Latrell Shaumkel, Abbas Miski, Liam Coleman, Eli Levido, Clayton Williams, Piki Rogers, Patrice Siolo, Brett Greinke, Brad Deitz (Capt), Fred Junior Mauala. Bench: Tevita Cottrell, Jamel Hunt, Riley Travers, Jokotama Dokonivalu.
Coach: Ben Gardiner.
Referee: Ryan Jackson. Touch Judges: Richard Daizli and Mitchell Stone.
Weather: Overcast, cloudy, 18 degrees C.
Other Round 19 ISP NSW results:
Mounties 27 d Canterbury-Bankstown 18; Illawarra Cutters 22 d Penrith 18; Wentworthville 40 d Newcastle Knights 18; New Zealand Warriors 24 d Manly-Warringah 22.
Wests Tigers and Wyong had byes.
The ISP NSW competition table after 19 rounds: http://www.nswrl.com.au/intrust-super-premiership-nsw/ladder1.html
Newtown Jets Director and long-time financial benefactor Terry Rowney was interviewed after yesterday’s game for Newtown Jets TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrE8kkBFnOI&feature=youtu.be
Junior Roqica was also interviewed after the match: https://www.instagram.com/p/BH9HbVwDV8e/
And Steele Sports also interviewed Matt McIlwrick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Asl-DzoPa0
More information about the Beer, Footy and Food Festival at Henson Park on the same day that the Newtown Jets host Penrith, Saturday, 30th July: http://www.newtownjets.com/beer-footy-food-festival/
Timeline from yesterday’s match at North Sydney Oval
North Sydney kick off, running to the famous Fig Tree end.
Norths get a repeat set in the 5th minute
Piki Rogers scores in the next set, converted by Eli Levido
North Sydney 6-0
The Bears look energised and determined
Mitch Brown knocks on in the 8th minute
The scrum is set 15 metres out from Newtown’s line
Bears put up kick into their left-side corner, ball is tapped back inside to Latrell Robinson who scores
Converted by Eli Levido
Norths 12-0 after 11 minutes
Two quick penalties in succession to Newtown
Jets go close in the south-east corner, ball goes loose
Norths nearly score from a grubber kick into Newtown’s in-goal in the 16th minute
Josh Cleeland goes close but unable to control the ball
Good break by the impressive Lachlan Stein
Newtown is conceding too many penalties
Eli Levido kicks a penalty goal for Norths in the 29th minute
North Sydney leads 14-0
Newtown not getting any prolonged momentum with the ball – too many turnovers and pushed passes
Jets make a break up their left side, Jordan Drew sends Matt Evans in to score to the left of the southern-end goal posts (36th minute)
Converted by Kurt Capewell, Norths lead 14-6.
Half-Time: North Sydney 14 leads Newtown 6.
Jets coach Greg Matterson is in full voice at half-time
The Jets aren’t following their game plan. Only started to compete hard late in the first half.
Need to stay disciplined, minimise penalties
Need to be the first to score and work their way back into control.
Second half:
Jordan Drew is finished for the day – shoulder injury
Jets immediately making inroads, looking more committed
Cleeland puts in a well-weighted kick into the Bears in-goal on the 5th tackle
Evans runs a superb angle and snaps up the bouncing ball to score in the 46th minute
Try converted by Kurt Capewell, Norths 14-12
Cleeland and Capewell combine cleverly for what might be a try but a pass is ruled forward (49th minute)
Newtown starting to get a few off-loads going, play is mainly at Norths end
Long distance try to Mitch Brown after earlier work by Lachlan Stein and Kurt Capewell (54th minute)
Capewell converts and Newtown leads 18-14
Norths knock on a high kick from Cleeland
Penalty conceded and Capewell kicks the goal; Newtown leads 20-14 (60th minute)
Jets defend a set at their end in the 62nd minute
Penalty to Newtown 10 metres out from Norths line in the 66th minute
Capewell kicks another penalty goal; Newtown now leads 22-14 (67th minute)
Jets look safe after Saulala Houma charges over in the left-side northern corner in the 75th minute
Terrific break from dummy-half by Matt McIlwrick put Newtown on the attack
Not converted, Newtown leads 26-14
Jets on the attack again at Norths end
Josh Cleeland appears to be tackled off the ball but no penalty received
Jacob Gagan scores in the next play (79th minute)
Converted by Capewell; Newtown 32-14.
Full-Time: Newtown 32 defeated North Sydney 14.
