Heritage Round will be in full swing when the Newtown Jets play North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval on Sunday 19 th of April. Celebrating this year's Rugby League Centenary the two foundation clubs will be competing for the Frank Hyde Shield.
This year the Jets are the form team in the VB NSW Cup, winning their first 3 games by huge margins. This game has all the ingredients of being a blockbuster as the Bears are also undefeated at the top of the table.
Both teams will have plenty of former NRL players on show for the local crowd. The Jets are the feeder club for the Roosters and have the services of centre Iosia Soliola, hooker Luke Gordon and second rower Mickey Paea.
North Sydney Bears gain the benefit of fringe players from South Sydney such as halfback Jeremy Smith, prop Luke Grant and captain Beau Champion, who has scored 4 tries this season.
Coach Greg Matterson will no doubt look to prolific try scorer Byron Ford to provide the razzle dazzle. The former Hull Kingston Rovers as been showing many defenders a clean pair of heels.
Samoan player's fullback Donny Thompson and prop Steve Meredith will also be hoping to put in a solid display with a chance to impress before October's Centenary World Cup.
After five away games to start the season the North Sydney Bears coach Wayne Lambkin and the team will be primed to take home the shield and also bragging rights before the two teams meet again on June 14 th at Henson Park.
Having set the benchmark in the last couple of years the Jets faithful supporters are expecting nothing less than a premiership this year, their first since 1974.
