In front of a huge crowd at Henson Park for their Beer, Wine and Food Festival, the Jets have scored an impressive win over the Bulldogs. See the match report, courtesy of NSWRL.
by Andrew Jackson
NSWRL.com.au
The Newtown Jets are within one point of the top-eight after shocking the ladder-leading Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 32-12 on Saturday afternoon.
Newtown were boosted by the late inclusions of experienced first-graders Sione Katoa, Kyle Flanagan and Scott Sorensen.
Katoa starred in the first half, running in three tries include one spectacular 90-metre effort.
Flanagan was also heavily involved in his first game since announcing his departure to the Roosters at the end of the year, demanding the ball in a confident display.
He finished the game with a hand in three of their tries.
He was involved in Newtown’s first try of the afternoon as he backed up in support after a break from Siosifa Talakai before linking inside with Tyrone Phillips.
It was all Katoa from then on as the dynamic winger ran in a hat trick of tries in just over 10 minutes.
His first came off a looping ball from Flanagan before he pounced on a towering kick from the halfback.
The next one he did all himself, snatching a cut-out pass to run 90 metres despite having little room between himself and the sideline.
Flanagan sent the conversion through the posts, his only successful attempt of the half.
A determined effort from Bulldogs fullback Toa Mata’afa right on the siren brought Canterbury back into the contest, albeit still trailing by 14 points at the break.
They quickly went over again minutes into the second half when Brandon Wakeham sent James Roumanos barging over.
But the comeback proved short-lived as another special play from Katoa pushed the home side further ahead.
This time he inexplicably regained a ricocheting kick from the Bulldogs on the fly, bursting through the line and finding William Kennedy in support.
Soon after Kennedy had a double. Canterbury made yet another error inside their half, handing possession back to the Jets.
And Flanagan shoved it onto Kennedy who weaved through the line to score in the corner.
Flanagan converted both tries to leave the score line at 30-8 with under 20 minutes remaining.
Bronson Garlick crossed over in the 71st minute to add respectability to the scoreboard but it mattered little, Newtown finishing dominant winners.
