Wentworthville’s 12-8 victory over the Newtown Jets in the VB NSW Cup Grand Final was truly a result for the ages, with Iwi Hauraki’s winning try bringing down the curtain on a match that lasted a record-equaling 104 minutes.

The Magpies dominated for the bulk of the match however Newtown’s dogged refusal to give up ensured it went into extra time, during which both teams were unsuccessful with a slew of field goal attempts.

Both had cruised through last week’s grand final qualifiers with Wentworthville thrashing Manly 42-12 and the Jets racking up 24 unanswered points in the first half before defeating Wests 36-22.

But the Grand Final was far from one sided.

Newtown survived an early scare when Wenty five-eighth Mark O’Grady busted the line and ran 50 metres before being pulled down just short of the line, with skipper James Maloney losing possession on the next tackle.

The Jets capitalised immediately, with captain and one-time Newcastle Knight premiership winner Sean Rudder rolling in a grubber for winger Shaun Foley to score in the corner.

The Magpies were back in it when their leading try-scorer Jonathan Wright finished off a classy backline move to dive over out wide for his 20th try of the season.

Wenty winger Iwi Hauraki was then denied a try in the left corner with Jets try scorer Foley slapping the ball loose a metre short of the try-line.

Again, the Jets went the length of the field in the next set and reclaimed the lead, with winger Byron Ford crossing on the left flank.

The Magpies trailed 8-4 at the break despite enjoying the bulk of possession and field position, and their woes continued in the second half when Justin Horo was ruled held up over the line.

But they drew level on their next attempt, with Horo sending centre Etu Uaisele over in the corner.

Wentworthville continued to dominate but Newtown held firm with some terrific scrambling defence.

O’Grady missed a field-goal attempt and then lost the ball five metres from the line as the match went into the final 10 minutes.

Jets hooker Rory Kostjasyn missed another field-goal shot, before O’Grady’s second attempt drifted just under the bar as the game went into extra-time.

The Magpies lost rampaging lock Joe Gulavao to an ankle injury in extra-time, as Foley, Maloney and O’Grady and Horo traded wayward field-goal attempts – seven between them. Horo’s shot never got a foot off the ground.

Finally, Wentworthville’s dominance paid off, with Hauraki running onto a grubber to give his side the lead for the first time in the match – after 104 minutes – and the NSW Cup title along with it.

VB NSW CUP GRAND FINAL

WENTWORTHVILLE MAGPIES 12

Tries: Jonathon Wright, Etu Uaisele, Iwi Hauraki

NEWTOWN JETS 8

Tries: Shaun Foley, Byron Ford

At ANZ Stadium

WENTY WINS THE NSW CUP Wentworthville Captain James Maloney lifts the premiership trophy  06 Oct 2008 1 of

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