Newtown have finished it late in Cessnock to come away with a 24-10 victory over Wentworthville.
It was a tough contest throughout, with the Jets taking a control in the final 10 minutes to gain the much need two premiership points.
Newtown had the first chance to score points with Matt Evans crossing on the left but was held up.
The play shifted to the other end of the field and this time it was the Jets under pressure, when a mistake from Travis Robinson gave the Magpies their first opportunity to attack.
Shortly after the Magpies had their first try of the game, with winger Bureto Faraimo crossing in the corner.
Newtown took a gamble on the restart with a short kick off and the gamble paid off. A penalty two plays later pushed the Jets closer to the Wentworthville line. Not needing anymore invitations, Jacob Gagan scored to level it up at 4 all.
The Jets were gifted another opportunity shortly after when Wentworthville were penalised for a strip. Poor discipline was starting to ruin the Magpies’ good start and the Jets marched up field once again.
Kurt Capewell then put the Jets in front, running a nice line to charge over out wide. Fa’amanu Brown made no mistake with the conversion to give the Jets a 10-4 lead after 18 minutes.
Newtown had a golden opportunity to extend their lead moments later but came up empty handed. Firstly, Josh Cleeland did a lovely show-and-go to get over the line but the Magpies’ defence held solid; Cleeland managed to get the ball free to Matt Evans, who just needed to catch and pass to the unmarked Gagan, but the centre went himself, only to be denied.
As far as chances went in the first half, that was it for Newtown.
Back-to-back penalties gave Wentworthville the chance to hit back and they did just that with Honeti Tuha diving over from dummy-half. Cameron King levelled the score at 10-all with his conversion.
Even though it was level on the score board, Wentworthville were starting to edge in front. The Magpies had the Jets under pressure in their 20-metre zone, but to the Jets credit they held tight in defence.
It was 10-all at half-time with both teams very even after 40 minutes.
Newtown again opted with the short kick-off to start the second half but this time it didn’t go to plan. Wentworthville attacked but came up empty-handed.
The Jets then had an opportunity to cross but the kick from Brown into the in-goal just had a little too much meat on it.
With just over half an hour play left, it was becoming a case of which defence would crack first. Unfortunately for Wentworthville, it would be them. Cleeland showed his hand, putting Capewell through a hole, who linked up with a flying Matt Evans. The deadlock was broken and Newtown led 14-10.
The Jets almost extended their lead shortly after when Junior Roqica charged over the line, only for referee Matt Noyen ruling obstruction close to the line.
As the game moved into the final 15 minutes of play, it seemed clear that the next team to score a try would win.
The Country Round was certainly known to the spectators that made the journey to Cessnock as the night time dropped the temperature dramatically.
With 10 minutes to go the Jets were awarded a penalty 35 metres out from the Wentworthville line. Capewell stepped up to crack a sweet shot between the posts, making it 16-10.
From the kick-off the Jets ended any hope of a Magpies comeback, when David Fifita made a devastating run from the restart. Fifita made it to halfway before linking with support which eventually ended with Jordan Drew scoring under the post for the easily the highlight of the match. Capewell added the extras to make 22-10 to Newtown. A late penalty goal to Capewell gave Newtown a 24-10 victory on a good nights footy in Cessnock.
