The Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles have beaten the Newtown Jets 24-12 in their Intrust Super Premiership trial match held at Shark Park.
With showers sweeping across the ground conditions were difficult for both teams, but the it was Blacktown Workers, the ISP partner club of the Manly Sea Eagles, who handled them best.
Despite the final scoreline indicating a comprehensive win,the Jets were in the contest for long periods of the match, with Blacktown crossing for four tries to three on the day, superior goal kicking blowing out the final margin.
After Blacktown opened the scoring the Jets responded, halfback Ben Jones crossing with a clever show and go, before the number seven had a hand in his teams second, throwing a cleverly timed pass for backrower Anthony Moraitis to score.
Two unsuccessful kicks at goal saw the Jets lead by two and those misses proved costly when another converted try saw the Sea Eagles go up by 12-8.
The Jets levelled with a well worked short side move, Tyrone Taukomu diving over in the corner and when the kick at goal was again off target it was 12-all with half time approaching.
Blacktown would however score again to make it 18-12 at the break, with the Jets set to turn around and run with the strong southerly wind at their back.
With both coaches making a number of personnel changes the second period was somewhat disjoined, the Sea Eagles crossing of the only points in pushing the final score out to 24-12.
Despite the loss, Newtown coach Greg Matterson won't be pushing the panic button, with a number of Sharks NRL squad members likely to slot back into the Jets side come round one.
The Jets will travel to Maitland next week to play the Newcastle Knights in a curtain raiser to the Sharks v Knights trial match.
ISP Trial
JETS 12
Ben Jones, Anthony Moraitis, Tyrone Taukomu tries
lost to
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 24
