Round 9
Newtown Jets 40 d. Bulldogs 22

2006 VB NSWRL Premier League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: Australia > New South Wales > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: VB NSWRL Premier League

Jets first half onslaught sees off Bulldogs
Mon May 8, 2006
Source: www.newtownjets.com

The Newtown Jets defeated near neighbours the Bulldogs 40-22 in Saturday's VB Premier League match played at Henson Park. Newtown had led 28-10 at half-time, with both teams scoring two converted tries apiece in a somewhat dour second half.

Newtown's strongest period of the entire game was during an inspired fifteen minutes burst in the first half, in which the Jets laid on four tries in rapid succession, with the reliable Josh Lewis converting three of these tries. Newtown had established dominance in the forwards and looked as if they could really go on with the job in the second half.

One of this season's largest Henson Park crowds was treated to a rather subdued second session of play, although the Jets were clearly in command with a 40-16 lead late into the second half. Newtown's cohesion and on-field communications appeared to fall away in the last quarter of the game, but coach Paul Young said after the match that while this wasn't the tidiest of wins the Jets always appeared to have control of the contest.

Newtown was best served in the forwards by busy hooker Heath L'Estrange, backrowers Lopini and Mickey Paea (who scored two fine tries) and front-rower Danny Williams. Luke Gordon made a solid impact from the bench and Adam Schubert tackled strongly in a successful comeback game. Josh Lewis, Aidan Kirk and Daniel Dumas were Newtown's best backs, with Dumas proving to be a more than capable stand-in centre in the past two weeks. There was a reshuffling of positions in the Jets backline after half-back ace Jamie Soward had left the field with a shoulder injury fifteen minutes into the first half.

In the first Jim Beam Cup competition home game for the season, the Jets turned in a disappointing team performance following two away wins in recent weeks. Newtown's poor completion rates in both halves plus an unacceptably high missed-tackles count contributed to their opponents Wentworthville taking a 22-0 half-time lead.

The Jets second half was much improved in terms of competitiveness and attacking execution but the visitors held on for a 28-16 win. Newtown lock Darren Lang made 37 tackles and was well supported by hard-working backrower Eddie Leuluai.

In the Sydney Women's Rugby League curtain-raiser, the Newtown Jetettes impressed in their first home appearance with a 24-4 thrashing of the Windsor She-Wolves. The inner-western girls look to be ready for a successful season under the coaching of the recently-appointed Joe Sabbagh. The Parkes Spacemen had a bye in the Group 11 competition on the weekend.

Neither of the two Newtown Jets teams has playing commitments this coming weekend. The Jets have a bye in the VB Premier League, while there is a spare weekend in the Jim Beam Cup competition.

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