A FEW centimetres proved to be the difference between a win and a loss for Nowra Bomaderry Jets against the Port Kembla Blacks today (Saturday) at the Nowra Showground.
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The Jets, with two seconds left on the clock, looked like they had snatched a late victory in what was a physical game of Group Seven Rugby League.
The home side, down 30-28, looked like it had recorded one of its best wins of the season when fullback Dwayne ‘Buster’ Connors chased a Geoff Johnson kick into the in-goal area to ground the ball.
However, celebrations turned to anguish when the Jets players realised the referee had penalised them for being in front of the kicker.
It must have come down to mere centimetres and many of the Jets players were still shaking their heads after the match.
Full credit must go to the Jets because they went into the match understrength and they more than held their own against the giant Blacks side.
Jets’ captain-coach Ben Wellington did not play due to a rib injury, while key centres Nathan Falzon and Jacob Dolan were also sidelined.
Ryan James, in a move made to combat the big Blacks’ backline was shifted into the centres while Tyson Simpson was named in the backs for his second first grade match and Trent Waldron got a start in the forwards.
Simpson was one of the many impressive Jets players and he is enjoying his time in the top grade.
“It was a lot more physical then the match last week,” he said.
“I reckon for sure we scored that try at the end and he (Buster) was on side by a mile.”
Simpson, by being confident enough to call for the senior play-makers to give him the ball, showed he is not out of place in first grade.
“Yeah it’s good playing with all those boys,” he said.
He added it was good experience to play against a guys like Fijian international James Storer.
The Jets, prior to the match, spoke about the importance of shutting Storer down from dummy half.
Storer was heavily marked but still directed his team around the field with aplomb and he seemed to know what was going to happen several sets ahead of everyone else.
When you talk about best on ground for the Blacks powerful centres Will Tamaari Nemana and Jale Seninawanawa feature prominently but lock Will Homer was right up there with the best of them.
Homer ran and tackled hard all match for the Blacks and his efforts helped get his team over the line.
Sean Lynch, speaking of hard workers, is enjoying being back with the Jets and the front rower almost set up one of the tries of the match.
Lynch burst his way through the meat of the Blacks’ pack, beat the fullback with a sidestep and as cover defence came he put in a deft little kick towards the in-goal which almost led to a try.
The front rower might be asking the selectors for a start in the backs next weekend.
Lynch, Connors, Simpson and second rower Zac Kershaw all played well for the Jets.