Bulldogs heavy artillery blows away
the Sydney Airport Jets

The seriously understrength Sydney Airport Jets led the star-studded Bulldogs VB Premier League team 28-26 with only ten minutes left to play in Sunday?s match at the Sydney Showground, but were torn apart in those final minutes as the Dogs piled on four tries to claim a 48-28 win.

The difference in class and professionalism eventually prevailed, although dumb defensive options by certain Jets players contributed to the blow-out. Newtown had led 16-14 at halftime, but brought their cause undone with an undisciplined second half in which they incurred a 6-1 penalty count against themselves. The Dogs had grabbed three first half tries through the Jets' backline's chronic inability to adjust in defence.

Newtown?s rookie fullback Hamilton Hughes made a tremendous VB Premier League debut, scoring two slashing tries. Halves David Hall and Craig Field were creative and hard-working, while forwards Dan Manousso, Bill Najjarin, James Stosic and Ben Vaeau lost nothing in comparison up against their high profile opponents.

The Jets went down 34-24 to Wentworthville in the Jim Beam Cup match at Henson Park on Saturday, and probably deserved a closer final scoreline. Chan Ly, Julian Enoka and Rick Lyons impressed in the backs, with George Ghazal and Bruce Po giving strong performances in the forwards.

Up in Group 11, the Parkes Spacemen are also doing it very tough with injuries, and they were on the wrong end of a 60-12 thrashing from the Manildra Rhinos last Sunday.

Newtown plays Balmain in a local derby VB Premier League clash at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday (July 17) at 5.40pm, with the Jets Jim Beam Cup team travelling to The Entrance on Sunday (July 18) for a 2.45pm match at EDSACC Oval, The Entrance. Saturday's VB Premier League match will decide the winners of the Ryan-Pringle Trophy for 2004.