The Sydney Roosters NSW Cup team have returned to the winner's circle after fighting their way back from a 23-10 deficit to find a much-needed 24-23 victory over the second-place Newtown Jets on Sunday afternoon at Wentworth Park.
With both sides crossing for four tries, goal-kicking proved pivotal in the enthralling contest, which ended in a strong defensive set from the Tricolours, turning the Jets away with seconds remaining.
Match: Roosters v Jets
Round 13 -
home Team
Roosters
12th Position
away Team
Jets
2nd Position
Venue: Wentworth Park, Sydney
After 13 scoreless minutes, Newtown broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion as winger Samuel Stonestreet fielded an attacking cross-field kick from the Roosters and ran 95 metres to score. Mawene Hiroti successfully converted the try from in front to establish a six-point margin.
Easts responded quickly with a short ball out of dummy half that sent Naufahu Whyte crashing over the line. Sandon Smith kicked the conversion to lock it up at six apiece after 20 minutes.
Receiving a penalty shortly after the restart, the Tricolours quickly advanced the ball upfield and took the lead, as a grubber into the in-goal was chased down by Ethan King, giving his side a 10-6 advantage.
The recipients of a penalty and goal-line drop-out, the visitors began to mount some pressure on Easts with back-to-back sets from close range. They levelled the score once again with a heroic try from Hiroti, who pulled off a show-and-go to slip through the defensive line and score in the corner.
Hiroti reclaimed the lead for his side with a penalty from in-front eight minutes later, making the scoreline 12-10.
The fullback found another solo try less than two minutes later, taking possession 50 metres out from the try line before sprinting through the defence and grounding the ball untouched in the corner.
As the half time siren sounded, Niwhai Puru kicked a field goal to give the Jets a 17-10 lead at the break.
Newtown picked up where they left off, crossing the stripe just three minutes into the second half as Billy Magoulias delivered a bullet pass across the face of defenders to send Rhys Dakin over undefended, with Hiroti adding the extras from in front.
The men from Bondi managed to claw one back as a fifth-tackle grubber into the in-goal from Smith was tracked down by Allan Fitzgibbon. The Skipper then converted from out wide to make it a seven-point contest.
The Roosters had another opportunity to reduce their opponent’s lead after Hiroti was bundled into touch following a short-side kick from Smith. The hosts capitalised on the opportunity with Ethan King chasing a grubber into the in-goal and planting the ball just short of the dead-ball line. Smith converted from in-front, reducing the buffer to a single point with 20 minutes remaining.
Receiving a penalty for a late shot on the kicker, the Tricolours stole the lead a few metres in from touch with a penalty goal from Smith in the 73rd minute.
A final-minute infringement from the Roosters afforded the Jets one last opportunity. Scrambling to defend from edge to edge, the Red, White and Blue rushed up in defence quickly to shut down a field goal attempt, holding onto their narrow lead until the final siren.
Sydney Roosters 24 (Naufahu Whyte, Allan Fitzgibbon, Ethan King 2 tries, Sandon Smith 4 goals) def Newtown Jets 23 (Samuel Stonestreet, Rhys Dakin, Mawene Hiroti 2 tries, Mawene Hiroti 3 goals, Niwhai Puru field goal)
