Wolves end the Jets winning run

Wolves end the Jets winning run.

The Windsor Wolves brought Newtown's recent NSW Cup winning form to an abrupt end on Saturday afternoon when they defeated the Jets 24-8 at Henson Park. Newtown had led 8-6 at half-time but had failed in that first session of play to take advantage of several more scoring opportunities.

Centre Rhys Pritchard scored both of Newtown's tries in the first half, during which the Jets had frustratingly been unable to mount and sustain pressure on their opponents. Newtown's sets of possession were repeatedly frittered away with kicks that either went dead or were unable to generate repeat sets at Windsor's end of the ground. Coach Greg Matterson emphasised to his players at half-time that the game was there for the taking if the Jets controlled possession and played smarter in the opposition's quarter.

The second half proved to be a disappointment to the season's best home crowd as the Jets failed to add to their half-time score, while the Wolves piled on four tries to secure a comfortable victory. Wildcard winger Byron Ford had the crowd roaring as he latched onto an intercept early in the second half, but showed he needs plenty of sprint work following his extended lay-off.

The Jets went on to have further scoring opportunities in Windsor's quarter but the team's attacking limitations were painfully exposed. The Wolves scored twice from high kicks midway through the second half and added to the Jets' misery with another try right on full-time. Newtown's high error rate in the second half turned over plenty of possession to the energised Wolves, who were coming off an impressive away win against the Auckland Vulcans on the previous weekend.

In addition to the Sydney Roosters mounting injury toll in their NRL ranks, Jets back-rower Brad Barrett and utility back Brett Lane both suffered injuries that will probably keep them out of action in the upcoming weeks. The Jets' NSW Cup workload doesn't get any easier when they travel to the Crest Stadium (Bass Hill) next Saturday (21st May) to take on the competition leaders, Canterbury-Bankstown, with this match timed to start at 3.00pm.

NSWRL NSW Cup - 10th Round
Saturday, 14th May 2011
Henson Park
Newtown Jets v Windsor Wolves
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Windsor Wolves 24:
Ryan Walker, Sandor Earl, Mike
Worrincy, Michael Mate, Jesse Sene Lefao tries;
Joseph Paulo 2
goals
defeated
Newtown Jets 8:
Rhys Pritchard 2
tries.

Half-Time: Newtown led 8-6.

Referee: Henry Perenara.
Touch Judges:
John Woods, Adam Cassidy.

Curtain-Raiser Result at Henson Park:
NSWRL NSW Cup
- 10th round
Cronulla-Sutherland 56 defeated Western Suburbs 10.

Playing surface: Very good.
Weather: Sunny and mild.

Newtown's team was:
26 - Mark Kheirallah
2 -
Byron Ford, 5 - Justin Carney
1 - Rhys Pritchard, 15 - Brett Lane
6
- Johnathon Ford, 7 - Blake Lazarus
13 - Aidan Guerra
11 - Boyd
Cordner, 12 - Brad Barrett
8 - Brad Takairangi, 10 - Khalid Deeb
(Capt.)
9 - Kurt Kara.
Bench:
14 - Ahmad Ellaz,
4 - Francis Vaiotu
17 - Ryan Verlinden, 18 - Scott
Jones.