Round 2
Newtown Jets 46 d. Western Suburbs Magpies 28

2006 VB NSWRL Premier League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: Australia > New South Wales > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: VB NSWRL Premier League

High scoring Jets stave off Magpies fightback
Mon March 20, 2006
Source: Newtown Jets

The Newtown Jets won this second round VB Premier League match against Western Suburbs on Saturday by 46-28, but gave Henson Park regulars some anxious moments in the action-packed second half.

In a game in which 15 tries were scored, the Jets looked to be set for a runaway victory when they led by 30-4 early in the second half. No-one anticipated Wests? dominance with the football for the next 15 minutes and their 12 consecutive sets of possession, as the Magpies piled on 4 tries and 20 points to get right back into the game at 30-24. Newtown?s forward power and individual class enabled the Jets to wrest back control of the contest, as they added three more tries towards their eventual comfortable winning margin.

Newtown coach Paul Young said he was pleased with his team?s 9 tries and improved attacking cohesion, but he admitted that the concession of 6 tries and 28 points to a team that may well be one of the Premier League?s lesser lights pointed towards defensive problems that needed urgent attention. The Henson Park crowd would have probably drawn the same conclusion, but no doubt were impressed by the genuine quality and precision of several of Newtown?s tries.

Former Dragons Jersey Flegg captain Josh Lewis was Newtown?s best player on the day, with his expansive passing game, intelligent strategic kicking and obvious organisational skills. Big forwards Glenn Hall, Charles Tonga and Mark Edmondson would have appreciated the cooler playing conditions on Saturday and their mid-field control was a decisive factor in the second half. Talented lock forward Setaimata Sa made some classy offloads and John Doyle showed his versatility as both a five-eighth and hooker. Young winger Troy Savage, promoted from the Roosters Jersey Flegg side due to injury to Aidan Kirk, claimed three important tries, and centres Lelea Paea and Vince Mellars gave strong performances.

The Jets might have gone down by 38-10 to Asquith in the Jim Beam Cup trial game curtain-raiser, but this result should be re-assessed in the light of coach Greg Matterson?s sound managerial decision to pitch his fringe triallists in against full-strength opposition. Matterson noted that this action was taken with a view to making his gradings list this week and that it was critical to his final selection decisions. The number one Jim Beam Cup squad had been put through a rigourous ninety minute gym session earlier on Saturday under the eagle-eyed supervision of the club?s strength and conditioning coach Dennis "Rowdy" Yates.

Newtown is back at Henson Park this Saturday (March 25th) against one of the Jets? repeated nemesis opponents in the VB Premier League, the Canberra Raiders. There certainly is a full program of Rugby League at Henson Park on Saturday, with the important Premier League match between the Jets and the Raiders kicking off at 4:15pm. This match will be preceded by a Jim Beam Cup trial game between Newtown and Wentworthville at 3:00pm, and Roosters versus Magpies SG Ball and Harold Matthews junior representative fixtures at 1:15pm and 12:00 noon respectively. The day?s football commences with a Sydney Women?s Rugby League trial match between the Newtown Jetettes and Guildford at 11:00am.

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