Originally Posted by Jets Media Release
Jets Pipped at the Post by Parramatta Yet Again.
A makeshift Newtown Jets team battled bravely in Saturdays VB Premier League match against Parramatta at Henson Park, only to have victory snatched from them in the last minutes of the game. The Jets had trailed 19-12 at halftime but had slightly the better of the contest for most of the second half. They were clinging desperately to a 30-29 lead in the games dying moments but Parras late converted try gave the Eels a 35-30 victory, leaving the Jets mired on the fringes of the competitions top eight.
Newtown fans responded well to their clubs clarion call and the seasons best crowd was in attendance for this clash between two of the VB Premier Leagues fiercest rivals. Jets front-rower Dale Newton brought a roar from the partisan crowd when he barged over in the sixth minute, following polished lead-up work by debutant winger Hermani Moala and five-eighth Shaun Foley. Newtowns defensive fragility was ruthlessly exposed in a forgettable ten-minute spell midway through the first half, with the Eels piling on three tries but only converting one of them. The Jets responded in the thirtieth minute when three of their best performers on the day halfback George Ndaira, hooker Heath LEstrange and Foley - combined for the latter to score and then convert his own try. Parramatta increased their lead five minutes before the break with a try from a well-directed corner kick, as well as by adding a field goal virtually on the halftime siren.
The Jets narrowed the margin to one point after second-rower Anthony Cherrington stormed across the line five minutes into the second half, with Foley adding the extras. Another breakdown in midfield defence conceded a converted try to the Eels, but the young Jets fought back through a long break by centre Antonio Winterstein, which ended in halfback Ndaira sending fullback Aaron Lai on a cleverly-angled run to score to the right of the posts in the 55th minute. Foley converted for Newtown to trail by 25-24, and the versatile Lai thrilled the big Henson Park Hill crowd with a try-saving tackle barely two minutes later.
Parramatta continued to exploit Newtowns fundamental errors, scoring another try following a possession turnover by the Jets thirteen minutes out from fulltime. Consecutive penalties from referee McFarlane gave the Jets the territorial platform from which the hard-grafting Newton battered and bulldozed his way through a phalanx of Parra defenders, scoring just to the left of the southern end uprights. Foleys conversion gave Newtown a 30-29 lead with just four minutes to play. The vocal crowd was attempting to will the Jets home but yet another handling error gifted the Eels possession twenty metres out from Newtowns line. The Jets defended desperately for a complete set but a penalty to Parramatta gave the Eels another crack with two minutes remaining. Parra then scored from a ricocheting kick that wasnt defused and converted the try. The Jets still werent beaten and in the very last minute of play winger Troy Savage nearly grabbed a miracle try from a well-placed last throw of the dice kick from Foley.
Newtown coach Paul Young admitted that yet another last minute defeat at the hands of Parramatta was gut-wrenching, but he was full of praise for the courage and fierce determination of his team which had undergone several late changes. Hooker Heath LEstrange was one of the Jets best, and he was seemingly everywhere in attack and defence. Halves Ndaira and Foley were playing together for the first time but combined like an experienced old firm. Both Savage and Winterstein ran with real purpose and Lai had his best match of the season. Newton (now the clubs leading try-scorer), Cherrington and backrowers Grant Millington and Adam Schubert all worked hard in the forwards, while Steve Meredith made a great comeback after major knee surgery back in early 2006.
The Newtown Jets are back at Henson Park this Wednesday night (27th June) for their deferred VB Premier League match against the Bulldogs, with this match timed for kick-off at 7.00pm.
Newtowns team against Parramatta was:
Aaron Lai, Hermani Moala, Vince Mellars, Antonio Winterstein, Troy Savage, Shaun Foley, George Ndaira, Charlie Tonga, Grant Millington, Adam Schubert, Dale Newton, Willie Brown, Heath LEstrange.
Bench:
Steve Meredith, James Shillington, Anthony Cherrington, Hep Cahill.
Parramatta 35;
7 tries, 3 goals, 1 field goal
defeated
Newtown 30:
Dale Newton 2, Shaun Foley, Anthony Cherrington, Aaron Lai tries; Shaun Foley 5 goals.
Half-Time: Parramatta led 19-12.
Referee: Ricky McFarlane.
Playing surface: Average.
Weather conditions: Fine, sunny, cold.
Match Day Sponsor: Soil N Stuff, Harrow Road, Kogarah.
*** Good write up on a good game. Shame about the crucial two points though.***
