Match Report – Bears gutsy win over Jets

The 2017 Frank Hyde Shield has ended in a draw after the North Sydney Bears won by the same point differential as the Newtown Jets won against the Bears earlier in the season.

In a highly defensive match where no points were scored in the second half, North Sydney defeated Newtown 16-12 at Henson Park on Saturday.

A strong start by North Sydney saw them score three tries in the opening 35 minutes to take the scoreboard to 16-6. The Bears looked set for an easy win but a try on the half-time whistle by Newtown kept the Jets in the game.

Both sides put on a strong performance in the second half but it was the Bears tough defensive play that kept them in the lead.

A classy performance by Eli Levido assisted the Bears with two tries, while Cheyne Whitelaw and Tautalatasi Tasi continued with their good form from the season.

A seven-tackle set was the Jets final chance to grab a victory but a poor last tackle option ensured the Bears secured a tense 16-12 win.

The Bears now look to this weekend for a preliminary semi-final against the Newcastle Knights.

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North Sydney Bears 16 (E Murphy, T Tasi, A Miski tries; E Levido 2 goals) def Newtown Jets 12 (J Williams, B Anderson tries; J Paulo 2 goals)

Final team: 

1 Eli Levido
2 Tautalatasi Tasi
3 Siti Moceidreke
4 Latrell Robinson
5 Abbas Miski
6 Edward Murphy
7 Luke Kelly
8 Dean Britt
9 Bradley Deitz
10 Fred Junior Mauala
11 Tom Freebairn
12 Piki Rogers
13 Cheyne Whitelaw

Interchange
14 Jamel Hunt
15 Toby Rudolf
16 Clayton Williams
17 Patrice Siolo

Coach: Ben Gardiner