A 26-24 loss to the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles has left the Newtown Jets with plenty of work to do over the last four rounds should they hope to play a part in the Canterbury Cup Finals.
The Jets led for most of the contest until a couple of late Blacktown tries spoiled their afternoon, with the Newtown side now 10th and seemingly needing to win all remaining games to have a chance of contesting the playoffs later this year.
Newtown now move on to play the third-placed Penrith Panthers in a match that will serve as the curtain-raiser for the Sharks v Panthers NRL clash on Friday night. Kick-off will be at 5.40pm.
See below a match report courtesy of NSWRL.com.au
By Jarrod Ryan
NSWRL.com.au
A second half comeback from the Blacktown Workers led by a two try effort from prop Lloyd Perrett saw a narrow Sea Eagles win over the Newtown Jets.
Early pressure from the Jets with back-to-back sets gifted Newtown the first try coming off the back of a Blacktown drop out. The Newtown blackline’s quick hands saw fullback William Kennedy reaching out for the try line.
Blacktown replied in their following set with a try from centre Tevita Funa scoring in the corner off the back of a dominant forward run from experienced prop Lloyd Perret.
The Jets continued to exploit the gaps in the Blacktown midfield defence as hooker Grant Garvey shot through from dummy half to set the foundation for a Jack Williams grabber. Blacktown’s unsuccessful attempt at a short dropout gave the Jets decent field position, allowing winger Luke Polselli to demonstrate his athleticism, diving over the left corner to score Newtown second try of the afternoon.
The Blacktown Sea Eagles attempted to regain control of the first half with inspired defensive efforts from winger Abbas Miski and powerful runs from forwards Tony Williams and Lloyd Perrett off the back of consistent offloading from Dane Aukafolau.
Newtown’s in-form winger Sione Katoa set up the last try of the first half with an 80-metre run gifted to him from a poorly placed Sea Ealges short bomb. Katoa dished an inside ball to his edge partner Tyrone Phillips who scored underneath the posts Kyle Flanagan took no time in slotting the easy conversion which gave the Jets the 14-point advantage going into the half time break.
Undisciplined Blacktown defence at the start of the second half put Newtown in front a further two points with an easy penalty goal slotted by Kyle Flannagan.
The Sea Eagles kept themselves in the game with an unconverted try scored by an effective overlap set play which saw winger Abbas Miski dive over the line.
Blacktown continued to pressure Newtown through the middle with Lloyd Perrett falling over the line underneath the posts off the back of a short ball from crafty hooker Zach Docker-Clay. A successful conversion from Elgey saw the team close the gap by 6 points.
Blacktown’s lack of ball control in attempt to regain momentum gifted the Jets field position to set up a two-man cut out pass that allowed Sione Katoa to stroll over the line. The conversion attempt for the Jets’ fourth try was unsuccessful as the ball bounced off the crossbar.
An Elgey and Williams mid-field combination kept the Blacktown Workers in the game as hooker Docker-Clay scored under the post with 17 minutes to go.
The Sea Eagles finally saw the lead with prop Lloyd Perret crashing over the line for his second try gifting Blacktown the game from an Elgey conversion with less than five minutes to go.
JETS 24
Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Tyrone Phillips, Luke Polselli tries, Kyle Flanagan 4 goals
lost to
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 26
