The Reserve Grade Newcastle Knights defeated the Newtown Jets 28-18 at Shark Park on Saturday afternoon.
Jaelen Feeney and Pauli Pauli's return from injury helped the Knights record 22 points in the first 40 minutes, before holding off a second half surge by Newtown to claim the points.
Lock Jacob Saifiti got first points of the match, before the Jets' Tony Williams returned fire to level it up 6-6.
The skillful footwork of Jaelen Feeney through the middle rewarded the Knights with their second try and they led 12-6 after Kainoa Gudgeon added the conversion.
After 25 minutes, Knights centre Braden Robson charged through for the Knights to lead 16-6 before second rower Josh King's try stretched the scoreline out to 22-6.
A penalty on the halftime siren saw the Jets' Fa’amanu Brown kick the penalty goal. Knights led 22-8 at the break.
44 minutes in, a pin-point kick by Manaia Cherrington saw Newtown's lock Joseph Paulo add the first points in the second half.
Closing in on the Knights, Jets centre Jordan Drew took on the left corner to score a try before Pat Mata’utia side-stepped defence for the Knights fifth try of the match.
Kainoa Gudgeon booted the conversion, and the Knights defeated the Jets 28-18.
Summary
Newcastle Knights: 28 (T: Saifiti, Feeney, Robson, King, Mata’utia, G: Gudgeon 4/5)
Newtown Jets: 18 (T: Williams, Paulo, Drew, G: Brown 2/3, P: Brown 1)
Newcastle
1. Nick Meaney, 2. Cory Denniss, 3. Tom Hughes, 14. Braden Robson, 5. Kainoa Gudgeon, 6. Will Pearsall, 7. Jaelen Feeney, 8. Josh King, 9. Tyler Randell, 10. Pauli Pauli, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 17. Pat Mata’utia, 22. Jacob Saifiti. Interchange: 15. David Bhana, 18. Faitotoa Faitotoa, 20. Tyrone Amey, 21. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown.
Newtown
1. Luke Towers, 2. Matt Evans, 3. Jordan Drew, 4. Jesse Ramien, 19. Edrick Lee, 6. Penani Manumalaelii, 7. Fa’amanu Brown, 8. Kurt Dillon, 15. Kurt Kara, 10. Sam Tagataese, 11. Tony Williams, 12. Jayden Walker, 16. Joseph Paulo. Interchange: 9. Manaia Cherrington, 13. Jack Williams, 14. Jaimin Jolliffe, 21. Kenny Niko.
