Round 11
Newtown Jets 36 d. South Sydney Rabbitohs 28

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

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

Jets clock off early in win over Rabbitohs
Mon May 22, 2006
Source: www.newtownjets.com

The Newtown Jets went dangerously close to allowing South Sydney to snatch a belated and improbable win in Saturday's VB Premier League local derby played at Henson Park.

The Jets held on to win by 36-28, after having amassed an imposing 30-6 lead ten minutes into the second half. The Newtown lads then appeared to "bundy off" for the afternoon as the Rabbitohs put on three converted tries to get right back into the game. A converted try to the Jets by fullback Aaron Lai, engineered through hooker Luke Gordon and halfback ace Josh Lewis, virtually sealed the result for Newtown but the feisty Rabbitohs added one more try in the last minutes of the game.

Newtown's team play in the first fifty minutes was disciplined, relentless and well-executed, with an exceptional contribution from halfback Josh Lewis. Lewis was directly involved in three of Newtown's four first half tries, and then claimed one for himself early in the second half, as well as delivering a clever inside ball for Aaron Lai's match-clinching try with seven minutes remaining.

The Jets were also well served by livewire hooker Luke Gordon who frequently made valuable ground-gaining dashes from dummy-half. Newtown had dominated the forwards battle in the first half, but the big Jets forwards felt the pinch in the last twenty minutes when Souths had plenty of possession and all the momentum. Jets second-rower Mickey Paea made numerous damaging runs and Daniel Dumas again proved to be a very effective stand-in centre. Former Rabbitohs junior Aaron Lai impressed at fullback with his enthusiasm and safe handling, while the extravagantly-talented Setaimata Sa thrilled the crowd with a brilliantly-taken individual try just prior to half-time. Josh Lewis converted Sa's try with a towering conversion from right on the left-hand sideline.

In the Jim Beam Cup curtain-raiser, the Newtown Jets laid on a quality team performance in their comprehensive 48-10 win over Asquith. The Jets maintained a high completion rate, minimised their errors and showed the Henson Park crowd just what an impact they are capable of making in this season's competition. Newtown scored nine tries to two and led 20-6 at the half-time break.

Lock Darren Lang and front-rower Eddie Leuluai were the outstanding performers on a day when so many players worked well together in locking the bigger Asquith team right out of this contest. Young centre Anton La Vin continues to impress in his first season of senior Rugby League football.

The Newtown Jetettes overpowered their Guildford opponents in the Sydney Women's Rugby League match played on Saturday, with the inner western girls once again clearly establishing their authority in this competition. Up in the central-west of NSW the Parkes Spacemen had no luck in their Group 11 first grade match against the Cobar Roosters, going down narrowly by 30-22.

There will be no Jim Beam Cup competition matches this coming weekend. The Jets face a tough opponent in the VB Premier League next Sunday (May 28th) when they confront the defending premiers Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium at 1.00pm. This match will be the curtain-raiser to the Roosters-Parramatta NRL match at 3.00pm. Following their match commitments, the Roosters NRL players and coaching staff, as well as the Jets VB Premier League squad, will be at the Jets Sports Club next Sunday evening (28th May) at 6.30pm. This will be a wonderful opportunity for inner western youngsters to meet up with the Roosters players, and every child in attendance will receive a gift from the Newtown Jets club. Further details can be obtained by calling 1300 36 36 90.

Report sent by: www.newtownjets.com

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