The Newtown Jets have scored a late try, with the Brayden Trindall conversion from a wide angle securing a draw against the Warriors and a valuable one competition point. See a match report courtesy of NSWRL.com
by Andrew Jackson
NSWRL.com
A 78th minute try to Matt Evans has seen the Newtown Jets steal a dramatic 20-all draw with the New Zealand Warriors at Henson Park on Saturday.
The result was anything but settled when the centre crossed over, with Braydon Trindall facing a tough conversion from near the sideline in windy conditions.
But the halfback judged it perfectly, curling the ball back and through the posts.
This was a Warriors outfit stacked with first-grade experience though as starting front rowers Chris Satae and Sam Lisone led the charge.
All eyes were on halves Adam Keighran and Chanel Harris-Tevita as both continue to try and stake their claim for an NRL recall, currently behind more established playmakers Kodi Nikorima and Blake Green.
Keighran was the more composed of the two, scoring a try and guiding the side around well with his kicking game.
Despite all their experience, the Warriors found themselves trailing early by 10 points.
Newtown broke through for the first try of the afternoon when a cut-out pass from Jack Williams sent Ronaldo Mulitalo slicing over in the left corner.
Siosifa Talakai then scored in the 13th minute when he stormed onto a ricocheted grubber and powered through the line.
The successful conversion from halfback Braydon Trindall pushed their lead out to 10.
The Warriors were guilty of conceding several first-tackle penalties in the opening half, gifting the Jets easy passage out of their own end.
And when they were down near the opposition try line, a lack of polish cost them.
They eventually hit back when Hayze Perham intercepted a William Kennedy pass and steamed away.
He was run down by lock Scott Sorensen but they quickly capitalised on the break, spreading it left as Taane Milne dived over.
Adam Keighran nailed the conversion from the sideline to reduce the deficit to four.
Satae was impressive for the men from across the ditch, dragging defenders with him on each run.
But fellow front rower Lisone made an even bigger statement five minutes after play resumed as he pushed four defenders away before muscling over to score.
It came after a miskick from Trindall landed out on the full, gifting the Warriors prime field position.
They were also helped by wingers Gerard Beale and Milne, whose first-grade experience proved vital with the pair providing plenty of strong carries from deep inside their own half.
But the play of the day came from fullback Adam Pompey, who returned the ball with vigour before bursting through the middle and fending away defenders all the way to the try line.
The 80-metre effort gave the away side the lead for the first time. Keighran wasn’t able to convert either try, unable to account for the windy conditions at Henson Park.
An unnecessary offload from Satae handed possession back to Newtown who immediately capitalised as Sione Katoa went over out wide. Trindall couldn’t land the conversion, leaving scores locked at 14-all.
Keighran then chased his own bomb and picked up the scraps to score as the Warriors regained the lead with 13 minutes remaining.
The five-eighth hooked himself from the kicking duties, handing them over to fellow half Chanel Harris-Tevita who slotted it from next to the posts.
A couple of late penalties presented the Jets with a late chance to snatch the draw and they did just that when Matt Evans crossed over with two minutes remaining.
The wind had wreaked havoc all day but Trindall judged the conversion perfectly, curling it back through the posts to level things up with just over a minute remaining.
The halfback looked to turn match winner as he snapped a rushed attempt at field goal from 40 metres out but it missed to the left of the posts.
