The sun shone over Henson Park on Saturday afternoon, with plenty of fans from both teams turning out to cheer on their side. The North Sydney Bears went down 40–30 to the Newtown Jets in a physical contest, but dug deep to deliver a gutsy performance. In the end, the Jets proved too strong, securing the win to keep their finals hopes alive.

It was a tightly contested match, with the Bears edging possession at 51% and making the most of their opportunities with an impressive 83% completion rate. The Bears laid a strong platform through their running game, producing 1,383 run metres and 462 post-contact metres across the match. After the Jets opened the scoring inside the opening eight minutes, the Bears responded through Abiaithur Toi Tuilaepa. Following a six-again call, the Bears shifted the ball to the right edge, where Jake Toby quickly identified the opportunity and palmed the ball off to Toi Tuilaepa. The winger showed good footwork to find a gap and cross the line, putting points on the board for the Bears. Riley Meyn crossed soon after, taking advantage of a quick play-the-ball to burst through the defensive line. North Sydney went to the sheds with a narrow two point lead, aware a tough battle awaited in the second half.

The Bears made a statement early with Matt Stimson finishing off another slick play in the 44th minute to extend the lead to 20–12. Jake Toby then showcased his pace and footwork, stepping his way through the defence to cross for the Bears before Toi Tuilaepa completed his double just six minutes later. Kieran Hayman was reliable off the tee all afternoon, slotting four of five conversions and a penalty goal. Despite the Bears’ efforts, the Jets crossed for two late tries to extend their lead and close out the match with 40 points.

Regardless of the final scoreline, it was a spirited display from the Bears, who now turn their attention to this Saturday evening’s clash against the Storm under lights. It promises to be a huge day at North Sydney Oval, with our Junior League Grand Finalists taking the field from 12:30pm before the Bears take centre stage in the evening. This will be the Bears’ final regular-season home match before the finals, and we encourage all friends, family, fans and members to get down to Bear Park and cheer the team on. Tickets are just $10 and are available to purchase online, with fans also able to take to the field at half-time.

We hope to see you there!

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