Fairleigh Good!
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Cut and pasted from RLFANS.COM:
North East Students 32 16 UTS Jets
A rain-swept Gateshead International Stadium was the venue for the second leg of the New South Wales champions tour of the UK. In an absorbing contest that defied the conditions, the North East won 32-16 in front of over 500 spectators.
The North East Students rugby league side entertained Sydney-based UTS Jets on Wednesday evening, It was the second match of the Jets UK tour, which will culminate with a game against a Great Britain Students XIII. Following the Jets emphatic opening win against South London Storm, this was a keenly anticipated contest that drew a crowd of 537 to a chilly Gateshead International Stadium. Certainly the weather cannot have been to the liking of the Australians, who were further hampered by having their squad affected by injuries from the South London game. However nothing could detract from the confident and assured style in which the North East Students played the game from the very first whistle.
A strong opening set of possession from the North East set the tone for the game, with a well-organised defence making it hard for the Jets to get out of their own half during the opening exchanges. It was no more than the North East deserved when prop Rob Line crashed through the Jets defence for the opening try on 9 minutes. Watkinson added another five minutes later, and with Neil Thorman kicking both conversions for a 12-0 lead, an unexpectedly comfortable home win looked on the cards.
The Jets, an affiliation between University of Technology, Sydney and Newtown Jets RLFC, had other ideas however, and started to make inroads of their own. A scrambling cover tackle was needed to halt the first Jets attack of the night, but that break heralded the start of sustained pressure on the North East line that finally resulted in a try for centre Jonathon Swift. Youngs conversion narrowed the deficit to 6 points, and the visitors lifted their game. However, stubborn North East defence held them at bay, and with Neil Thorman enjoying an increasingly influential game it was the home side that struck next, Tony Williams going over wide on the left for a 16-6 lead. The try of the night followed in the 38th minute, Andy Queenans intelligent support play and passing that made light of the conditions resulting in a superb try to make it 22-6 at half time.
The Jets raised their game when they came out for the second period, and but for a knock-on would have narrowed the gap with their first attack. However their persistent pressure could not be withstood for long, second rower Tony Phillips scoring a converted try to make it 22-12. The North East seemed to be wavering, but coach Chris Hoods re-introduction of impact player Paul Dodsworth had an immediate effect, the burly prop setting off on a barnstorming run that relieved the pressure. An injury had obliged Thorman to switch to hooker, but if anything this seemed to increase the effectiveness of his distribution. Captain and Great Britain squad member Andy Robinson took a well-timed inside pass to run in the North Easts fifth try, and by the time Pritchard replied for the Jets with a well-worked try in the right hand corner it looked too little, too late for the tourists.
With injuries reducing them to a bare 13, the tiring Jets could not narrow the deficit further, and it was North East full back Graham Stephenson who wrapped up the scoring, making the overlap on the left for a final score of 32-16.
Id like to thank everyone who turned out to support us tonight, said a delighted Hood afterwards. I hope theyll agree we played some enjoyable football on a horrible night.
Youve got a good side up here, commented the Jets coach, former Australian international Phil Sigsworth. There were some things we could have done better, but you stopped us. Well done.
North East Students
Tries: Line (9 mins), Watkinson (14 mins), Williams (28 mins), Queenan (38 mins), Robinson (57mins), Stephenson (71 mins).
Goals: Thorman (4).
UTS Jets
Tries: Swift (18 mins), Phillips (49 mins), Pritchard (63 mins).
Goals: Young (2)
Man of Match
North East Students Neil Thorman
UTS Jets Tony Phillips
Half-Time Score: 22-6
Attendance: 537
North East Students 32 16 UTS Jets
A rain-swept Gateshead International Stadium was the venue for the second leg of the New South Wales champions tour of the UK. In an absorbing contest that defied the conditions, the North East won 32-16 in front of over 500 spectators.
The North East Students rugby league side entertained Sydney-based UTS Jets on Wednesday evening, It was the second match of the Jets UK tour, which will culminate with a game against a Great Britain Students XIII. Following the Jets emphatic opening win against South London Storm, this was a keenly anticipated contest that drew a crowd of 537 to a chilly Gateshead International Stadium. Certainly the weather cannot have been to the liking of the Australians, who were further hampered by having their squad affected by injuries from the South London game. However nothing could detract from the confident and assured style in which the North East Students played the game from the very first whistle.
A strong opening set of possession from the North East set the tone for the game, with a well-organised defence making it hard for the Jets to get out of their own half during the opening exchanges. It was no more than the North East deserved when prop Rob Line crashed through the Jets defence for the opening try on 9 minutes. Watkinson added another five minutes later, and with Neil Thorman kicking both conversions for a 12-0 lead, an unexpectedly comfortable home win looked on the cards.
The Jets, an affiliation between University of Technology, Sydney and Newtown Jets RLFC, had other ideas however, and started to make inroads of their own. A scrambling cover tackle was needed to halt the first Jets attack of the night, but that break heralded the start of sustained pressure on the North East line that finally resulted in a try for centre Jonathon Swift. Youngs conversion narrowed the deficit to 6 points, and the visitors lifted their game. However, stubborn North East defence held them at bay, and with Neil Thorman enjoying an increasingly influential game it was the home side that struck next, Tony Williams going over wide on the left for a 16-6 lead. The try of the night followed in the 38th minute, Andy Queenans intelligent support play and passing that made light of the conditions resulting in a superb try to make it 22-6 at half time.
The Jets raised their game when they came out for the second period, and but for a knock-on would have narrowed the gap with their first attack. However their persistent pressure could not be withstood for long, second rower Tony Phillips scoring a converted try to make it 22-12. The North East seemed to be wavering, but coach Chris Hoods re-introduction of impact player Paul Dodsworth had an immediate effect, the burly prop setting off on a barnstorming run that relieved the pressure. An injury had obliged Thorman to switch to hooker, but if anything this seemed to increase the effectiveness of his distribution. Captain and Great Britain squad member Andy Robinson took a well-timed inside pass to run in the North Easts fifth try, and by the time Pritchard replied for the Jets with a well-worked try in the right hand corner it looked too little, too late for the tourists.
With injuries reducing them to a bare 13, the tiring Jets could not narrow the deficit further, and it was North East full back Graham Stephenson who wrapped up the scoring, making the overlap on the left for a final score of 32-16.
Id like to thank everyone who turned out to support us tonight, said a delighted Hood afterwards. I hope theyll agree we played some enjoyable football on a horrible night.
Youve got a good side up here, commented the Jets coach, former Australian international Phil Sigsworth. There were some things we could have done better, but you stopped us. Well done.
North East Students
Tries: Line (9 mins), Watkinson (14 mins), Williams (28 mins), Queenan (38 mins), Robinson (57mins), Stephenson (71 mins).
Goals: Thorman (4).
UTS Jets
Tries: Swift (18 mins), Phillips (49 mins), Pritchard (63 mins).
Goals: Young (2)
Man of Match
North East Students Neil Thorman
UTS Jets Tony Phillips
Half-Time Score: 22-6
Attendance: 537
