Heartache for
Newtown

The South Sydney Rabbitohs snatched a dramatic 78th minute 18-16 victory over Newtown, in Saturday's hard-fought VB Premier League match played at Henson Park in front of a big local derby crowd, . It was a heart-breaking afternoon for the Sydney Airport Jets, who had battled through most of the second half with only one fit player left on the bench. To compound Newtown's woes, front-rower Monah Elahmad and five-eighth Simon Crotty have both suffered season-ending knee injuries. This was very much a game of inches, with both sides desperate to break their recent run of losses. Sydney Airport Jets winger Sioli Helu scored in the 25th minute after excellent preliminary work by Elahmad, Craig Field and Tommy Gemmell. Newtown retained this 4-0 lead until halftime.The Rabbitohs claimed a 6-4 lead early in the second half, but Newtown replied through a remarkably-determined charging try to Bill Najjarin, which was converted by Troy Barnes. Souths regained the lead five minutes later, but the masterful Craig Field dashed over after a smart scrum-base ploy to put the Jets 16-12 ahead, with twenty minutes still to play. The Rabbitohs finally cracked the exhausted Newtown defensive line with just two minutes remaining on the time-clock. Newtown's best were front-rowers James Stosic and Monah Elahmad, lock Tommy Gemmell and rampaging second-rower Billy Najjarin. Skipper Craig Field was an inspiration to his team-mates in both attack and defence. Newtown turned in a very disappointing performance in the Jim Beam Cup curtain-raiser, going down 44-16 to The Entrance. The Sydney Airport Jets have a bye in the VB Premier League this coming weekend, while Newtown plays away to Wentworthville in the Jim Beam Cup, with this Friday evening match at Ringrose Park kicking off at 7.00pm.