The Reserve Grade Newcastle Knights were edged out 18-16 by the Newtown Jets on Saturday afternoon at Cessnock Sports Ground.
A good start for the Knights didn’t last long as the Jets added three consecutive tries to their tally in the first half before back-to-back tries edged the Knights closer in the second stanza, but the visitors were able to hold them off.
Big forward Sam Mataora opened the day’s scoring at five minutes on the clock but a quick reply from Jets five-eighth Daniel Mortimer levelled the scores 6-all.
Newtown managed to stretch out the lead before halftime, with back-to-back tries coming from Jesse Ramien and Edrick Lee.
The Jets led 18-6 into the break.
In the second half, it was the Knights turn for back-to-back points coming shortly after the 60-minute mark via Hodkinson and winger Tom Hughes.
A missed conversion put the Knights two points behind, Newcastle unable to catch their opponents as the Jets took the win 18-16 at the final siren.
Summary
Newcastle Knights 16 (T: Mataora, Hodkinson, Hughes, G: Hodkinson 2/3)
Newtown Jets 18 (T: Mortimer, Ramien, Lee, G: Brown 3/3)
Squads
Knights
1. Nick Meaney, 2. Tom Hughes, 23. Cory Denniss, 4. Jacob Gagan, 5. Thomas Cronan, 6. Will Pearsall, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Mickey Paea, 14. Joey Morris, 10. Sam Mataora, 11. Braden Robson, 12. Pat Mata’utia, 13. Tyrone Amey. Interchange: 9. Tom Starling, 15. Bradie Smith, 16. Sam Bernstrom, 17. Pauli Pauli.
Jets
1.Matt Evans, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jordan Drew, 4. Jesse Ramien, 5. James Tuitahi, 6. Daniel Mortimer, 7. Fa’amanu Brown, 8. Kurt Dillon, 9. Kurt Kara, 10. Tepatasi Fuiava, 11. Kenny Niko, 12. Jack Williams, 13. Jayden McDonogh. Interchange. 14. Jaimin Jolliffe, 15. Jordan Galloway, 17. Saulala Houma, 26. Leigh Higgins.
