Nikorima Stars For Wyong
Matt Buxton (Twitter: @MattBuxton22)
Latrell Mitchell lined up for the Wyong Roos his first ever appearance in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW for their 19-16 victory over the Newtown Jets.
Jayden Nikorima was the star of the show for the Roos, stepping up when hooker and captain Mitch Williams had to pull out of the game after injuring his hamstring in the warm up.
Daniel Mortimer was a late inclusion for the Jets, returning from injury after a long layoff, but unfortunately could not finish the game after sustaining a serious concussion.
The Jets started the game with back-to-back sets on the attack, and were consequently able to post first points when Jack Williams pounced on a pin-point grubber dribbled into the in-goal area.
Wyong had their chances but were unable to cross the line despite optimal field position, before the Jets extended their lead to 12-0. with a long-range try to Leigh Higgins.
A scrum just inside their own half allowed the Roos to march straight back on the attack, and this time were able to trouble the Henson Park scoreboard attendant with a barge-over try adjacent to the posts.
Nikorima displayed his class and fancy footwork soon, dancing through the Jets’ defence to lock up the scores, before slotting a late field goal on the stroke of half time to give the Roos a 13-12 lead at the break.
While their previous two tries were solo-based, Wyong’s opening four-pointer of the second half was the complete opposite, with a Nikorima bomb being re-gathered, before the ball was thrown through various sets of hands to eventually find Matthew Ikuvalu, who scored in the right corner.
One of the competitions best players so far in season 2017, Jayden Walker, stepped up once again for the Jets, running a perfect line off a Daniel Mortimer pass to streak away and reduce the margin to 19-16.
With the game on the line and only three points the difference, Edrick Lee intercepted the ball and looked to run away with it as he did last week, but he dropped the ball with nobody in sight around in, a once in a career type of error.
Wyong were able to defuse Newtown’s last few shots at their line, securing a solid 19-16 win.
This article first appeared on NSWRL.COM.AU
