A Jets 80 minutes can be a lot like Christmas Day for a child, it starts with smiles and everything going well, but ends with emotional tears.
The Jets looked like they’d scored the new cricket bat and bike double when Michael Purcell and Marmin Barba scored inside the first 10 minutes for a 10-0 lead, with Isi Hafoka instrumental in both tries.
The Jets left side attack set about systematically dismantling the Magpies right side from the start.
Hafoka busted the Magpies and looked inside to find Purcell to get the Jets started, then six minutes later it was Hafoka again, who on the back of some handy footwork from Barba, kicked it again for Barba to go on to score.
Souths landed their first blow to the scoreboard when they went down the other end and George Fai was turned under to score his third try for 2019.
After 17 minutes, the game had produced three tries and a Jets 10-6 lead.
Souths again tested the Jets defence and Ipswich couldn’t hold out the hooker Blake Scott who was making his Intrust Super Cup debut for the Magpies.
The Jets took the two points on offer to stop the flow of points against and it was 12-12.
Magpie fullback Fanitesi Niu attacked the Jets down the Magpies right and when that didn’t yield the outcome he desired, he jumped over to the left and injected himself and came up with a try.
The Magpies led again 18-12 with five minutes to go until halftime.
Two minutes before the break, Purcell thought he had a double, but what was called back for obstruction.
Match: Jets v Magpies
Round 21 -
home Team
Jets
9th Position
away Team
Magpies
10th Position
Venue: North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
Magpie Ilikena Vudogo didn’t make the same mistake in the right corner coming off the bench and stormed his way over for a try that involved a massive fend that left several wounded Jets.
The Magpies had gone from 10-0 down to 22-12 at halftime.
Jet Julian Christian used some light stepping to weave his way through the Magpies two minutes into the half and the Jets had closed the gap to four.
But the Magpies would have liked what they saw from Vudogo when he was on the end of a beautiful Guy Hamilton pass to score his second try on the last tackle.
The Magpies were back in front by 26-18 with 30 minutes to play.
The Jets needed points and went to that man Barba to score his 80th try for the Jets. He missed the conversion and the Jets were down by 26-22.
With 13 minutes to go, Souths were awarded a penalty and took the two points option to widen the gap to a converted try 28-22.
The Jets were afford the same option and took the two as well to be back to four points behind.
When Souths kicker Hamilton was taken high after kicking the ball, the Magpies were given the chance to get back the two points and the win 30-24.
Match: Magpies v Seagulls
Round 22 -
home Team
Magpies
10th Position
away Team
Seagulls
6th Position
Venue: Davies Park, Brisbane
