NEWCASTLE THUNDER 52 HUNSLET 6
PHIL WORLD, Crow Trees, Saturday
NEWCASTLE produced a dominant second-half performance to down a spirited Hunslet side in a physical encounter on Tyneside.
With hits flying in throughout, Thunder built on a 14-6 half-time lead as their attack clicked while Hunslet couldn’t get into the game.
A scrappy first half saw Newcastle take the lead after seven minutes. Myles Harrison broke down the right and he found Jordan Lipp to score his first try of a hat-trick, followed by Harrison’s first of eight goals.
On 15 minutes, Thunder scored their second as Will Roberts chipped, regathered and found Noah Whittingham to go over.
Referee Kevin Moore gave Andy Djeukessi a yellow card for delaying the restart after Thunder had kicked through, and Hunslet rallied and turned up the pressure and physicality. Ant Walker and Pauli Pauli were introduced from the bench and their carrying caused problems.
The pressure told on 27 minutes as Walker provided a deft pass for Jowitt who went through a gap to score and convert to take the score to 12-6.
The remainder of the half was scrappy with knock-ons and penalties traded, including a yellow card for Dan Abram who took ex-Hunslet man Jude Ferreira out off the ball.
Just before the hooter Thunder were awarded a penalty and Harrison opted to kick the goal to take the score to 14-6.
It felt as though the first score in the second half was huge and it went to the home side. Nikau Williams scored a sensational solo effort, dancing through the Hunslet defence.
On 47 minutes, Lipp doubled his tally for the afternoon. Thunder had the feed at a scrum and the ball went to Lipp who found a gap in the Hunslet defence.
The tries were now flowing as Newcastle exploited the width of the pitch. Brad Ward broke and passed to Williams, who set up Bailey Antrobus for the next.
Hunslet were tiring at this point and couldn’t reset quickly enough against a side playing with tempo. Sam Cook broke and fed Lipp, who found Roberts to go over for the first of his two tries in quick succession.
Lipp provided the scrum-half’s other too, as he found himself at dummy-half on the last play and put through a delightful grubber kick for Roberts.
Then Lipp got his hat-trick on 70 minutes as Cook got the ball from a Hunslet knock-on and raced up the pitch. Roberts showed excellent work-rate to give his teammate support and find Lipp to go over.
The final try of the game came after Thunder were awarded a penalty. The ball found its way to Justin Sangaré who barged his way over, taking his side beyond the half-century.
GAMESTAR: Jordan Lipp, scored a hat trick but his ability to come into the line to create space for others is crucial.
GAMEBREAKER: Nikau Williams sensational solo score just after half time took the game away from Hunslet.
MATCHFACTS
THUNDER
27 Jordan Lipp
2 Andy Djeukessi
4 Jude Ferreira
1 Myles Harrison
5 Brad Ward
31 Nikau Williams
7 Will Roberts
32 Justin Sangaré
9 Taylor Pemberton
15 Brenden Santi
8 Bailey Antrobus
12 Noah Whittingham
13 Sam Cook
Subs (all used)
10 Ryan Jackson
18 Ukuma Ta’ai
20 Mitch Clark
25 Jack Smith
Tries: Lipp (7, 47, 70), Whittingham (15), Williams (43), Antrobus (55), Roberts (59, 63), Sangaré (76)
Goals: Harrison 8/10
Sin bin: Djeukessi (25) – delaying the restart
HUNSLET
1 Billy Jowitt
5 Mo Agoro
27 Charlie Graham
37 Alfie Goddard
21 Mackenzie Turner
22 Jack Ward
7 Dan Abram
35 Jordan Baldwinson
14 Cam Berry
26 Ethan O’Hanlon
11 Harrison Gilmore
20 Liam Carr
13 Eddie Battye
Subs (all used)
20 Dominic Tydeman
28 Pauli Pauli
40 Luca Atkinson
– Ant Walker
Tries: Jowitt (27)
Goals: Jowitt 1/1
Sin bin: Abram (36) – tackle off the ball
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 14-6; 20-6, 26-6, 30-6, 36-6, 42-6, 46-6, 52-6
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Thunder: Jordan Lipp; Hunslet: Pauli Pauli
Penalty count: 9-6
Half-time: 14-6
Referee: Kevin Moore