Charles "Chicka" Cahill
Premiership winning Newtown forward in the 1940s and actively involved with the Bluebags for the next forty years.

Match details

3.00 pm, Saturday, 12 June

Henson Park

NSW Cup ladder  [end of last round]

The Newtown Jets defeated Cronulla-Sutherland 42-20 in the VB NSW Cup match played at Henson Park on Saturday, but only wrapped the game up in the final twenty minutes.

The teams were locked up at 10-all at halftime and the Jets only led 22-16 midway through the second half.

No reassurance from first half contest

Three tries in a period of less than ten minutes in the second half secured this match for Newtown after they had lost team captain Jimmy Andersen with an ankle injury in the first half.

The Jets had every reason to approach this game with caution. Cronulla may have been in last place on the NSW Cup competition table, but they had ended North Sydney's unbeaten run the previous weekend and had several players with NRL experience in their ranks.

The Jets led 10-0 midway through the first half after fullback Byron Ford had posted two tries and they enjoyed an extended period of ball possession and favourable field position without adding any further points.

All the danger signs were evident when Cronulla had pulled level by halftime.

Newtown wins second half despite Cronulla persisting to end

Newtown added further tries to lock Hep Cahill and fullback Ford (his third) but Cronulla continued to stay the pace with a converted try in the 53rd minute.

The Jets took control midway through the second half with tries to winger Tevita Folau, halfback Ben Green, second-rower Mickey Paea and hooker Tyrone Shelley. Newtown coach Greg Matterson regarded this win as a good team effort and said Newtown's creativity with the ball and strong support play were deciding factors in this result.

Player performances

Newtown's best forwards were props Steve Meredith and Stanley Waqa, hooker Rory Kostjasyn and backrowers Mickey Paea and Hep Cahill. Byron Ford had an outstanding match and was voted as the players' player by his team-mates, while halves Sean Rudder and Ben Green also played well in the backs.

Injury to captain

Jimmy Andersen suffered an ankle ligaments injury in the first half and was replaced for the rest of the match.

Next game

The Newtown Jets face another very tough assignment when they travel to Brookvale Oval next Friday, 18 July, to play Manly-Warringah, with this match kicking off at 3.30 pm.

Match summary

Newtown: 42
8 tries, 5 goals

Cronulla-Sutherland: 20
4 tries, 2 goals.

Weather: cold, sunny
Playing surface: Excellent.

Referee: Robbie Bowen.
Touch Judges: Danielle Berry, Matt Damaso

NSW Cup ladder
[end of last round]

Who played?