Eels end Jet?s run at Henson

The great Tony Bennett?s song ?The best is yet to come? has a certain relevance to Newtown?s 20-6 loss to Parramatta in the top of the table VB Premier League match played at Henson Park on Saturday. The Jets went into this long-awaited showdown seriously undermanned through injuries and late positional changes, and will be a very different proposition for the Eels should the two teams meet again in the upcoming semi-finals series.

There were plenty of top-level Rugby League personalities in attendance at Henson Park on Saturday, along with the season?s biggest VB Premier League crowd. The NRL?s CEO David Gallop, salary cap auditor Ian Schubert and NSW Rugby League CEO Geoff Carr were all keen observers of the on-field action along with Newtown?s club patron John Singleton and a large contingent of the Jets 1981 first grade grand final team.

Parramatta led 10-0 after 15 minutes but a bulldozing try by Jets backrower Michael Burns which was converted by hooker Luke Gordon had Newtown back in the contest at 10-6. The Eels third try (all three of which had been achieved on Newtown?s left-side defence) took them to a 14-6 lead. The Jets were clearly hampered by their lack of a specialist five-eighth and half-back, and this situation wasn?t improved when classy fullback Aidan Kirk left the field with an ankle injury just prior to the half-time break.

The Jets strove desperately to bridge the points deficit but were unable to crack the determined Parramatta defensive structure. Newtown had attacked the Eels line for an extended period midway through the second half with no result and the Jets? cause wasn?t helped by a couple of questionable penalty decisions against them. Parramatta sealed the win with a converted try 12 minutes from full-time, these being the only points scored in a tough, bruising second half. The Eels win ended Newtown?s unbeaten run in home games at Fortress Henson Park this season.

Newtown?s best forwards on the day were Mickey Paea, Charles Tonga, Glenn Hall, Luke Gordon, Daniel Dumas and the ever-improving Mitch Aubusson. The Jets pack lost nothing in comparison to their opponents which augurs well for the tough games ahead. Aidan Kirk, Lelea Paea and Troy Malcolm were the best of Newtown?s backline.

The Jets Jim Beam Cup team scored a courageous 20-16 win over Cabramatta, keeping alive this team?s slim hopes of a top-three finish. Newtown had led 14-0 at half-time and could well have led by twice that margin. Cabramatta stormed back in the second half to lead 16-14 with twenty minutes remaining, but the feisty Jets regained the lead with barely ten minutes left to play. Newtown toughed out the last ten minutes, including a bizarre incident involving a malfunctioning time clock that jammed for a seemingly interminable period with a bare five seconds remaining!

Once again Jets prop Ritchie Parker was Newtown?s man of the match, and he received strong support from hard grafting front-rower Zoran Ilijoski. Halves Luke Millwood and Charlie Herekotukutuku were Newtown?s best backs in this hard-won and important victory.

The 1981 first grade grand final team?s 25th anniversary reunion lunch at the Petersham RSL Club on Saturday was a resounding success, with a big crowd in attendance and tremendous camaraderie in abundance. The highlight of the event was the show-stopping videotaped message from the inimitable Tom Raudonikis, who is recuperating in Brisbane following major surgery. Jets patron John Singleton, coaching supremo Warren Ryan and several former Jets first graders all spoke impressively and movingly at this memorable function.

In the thrilling Sydney Women?s Rugby League grand final played at Henson Park on Friday night, the Canley Vale Kookas held on for an 18-8 win over the Newtown Jetettes. The quality of the match and the big crowd on hand capped what has been a tremendous season for this competition.

Newtown?s Jim Beam Cup team is back at Henson Park this Friday evening (August 25th) for an important final competition round clash with the Windsor Wolves, with this match kicking off at 7.00pm. The Newtown VB Premier League team faces a danger game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Telstra Stadium on Sunday (August 27th) at 12.30pm. This match is the curtain-raiser to the Rabbitohs-Cowboys NRL fixture.

Photo:
Newtown Jets lock forward Mitch Aubusson is one of the emerging Rugby League talents for the future.
Photo courtesy of Mike Biboudis.