The Wyong Roos proved too strong for the Newcastle Knights’ NSW Cup side on Saturday with the opposition securing an 18-6 win at Morrie Brean Oval.
Coach Matt Lantry said Newcastle’s goal line defence was a pleasing aspect of the game, but a lack of execution and high error count proved costly in the round three clash.
“It was a bit of a scrappy affair from both sides really,” Lantry said.
“We started really well and led six nil for a period of time, and then some errors crept into our game and we really struggled to control the speed of the play the ball."
The Knights opened the score with a try by at Pat Vaivai. When the team was 10 metres out from the line, hooker Chad Redman torpedoed the ball to the powerful prop whose brute strength got him over the line.
Half back Danny Kerr converted Vavai's try.
Yet the Knights’ fortune stopped there with the Rip Taylor coached Roos running over the Knights in the back end of the game.
“For the majority of the game it felt like they were on the front foot and we were forever on the back foot,” he lamented.
“We were really good for a 20-minute period in the first half, from there it all went down hill.
“There were some really uncharacteristic things with some loose carries and basic drop balls.
“A lot of the things we can certainly tidy up from an individual perspective.
“I think it was just our own performance that let us down.
“We had the penalty count against us and the possession against us.
“That takes its toll when you have to defend back-to-back sets.
“I thought we created a lot of opportunities, it was just our own poor execution.”
The Knights’ reserve grade will be searching for redemption on Saturday when the team faces a grand final replay against the Penrith Panthers at Hunter Stadium.
“They will come out firing as Penrith reserve grade were beaten by Newtown on the weekend,” he said.
SUMMARY
Newcastle Knights 6 (T: Vaivai; G: Kerr 1/1)
Wyong Roos 18 (T: Stapleton, Ikuvalu, Sejika, G: Stapleton 3/3)
TEAM
Ross, Mamo, C Mata'utia, P Mata'utia, Tuha, Tuimavave, Kerr, Mataora, Redman, Vaivai, Newton, Jarrett, Tapine. Bench: Taylor, Elias, Steele, Finn.
