Jets blast through

A brave and committed Newtown Jets Jim Beam Cup team has tackled their way into the 2006 Grand Final, following their 22-6 win over Cabramatta in the Preliminary Final played at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday. This was a fiercely-contested match in the best traditions of elimination finals featuring bone-rattling body clashes, resolute defence and determined running. The Jets through this win made it three sudden-death finals victories in a row, having previously disposed of Windsor and Wentworthville.

Cabramatta staked their claim to this match through their no frills, physically intimidating forward pack, with their game plan clearly being one of overpowering and outmuscling Newtown. The Jets went close to scoring in the first twenty minutes, although no points were posted until Cabramatta scored and converted in the 27th minute. Newtown replied four minutes prior to half-time when fullback Toufic Nicolas chip-kicked, cleverly regathered and put front-rower Zoran Ilijoski over for the Jets to trail 6-4 at the break.

Newtown jumped away to a great start to the second half with a try to lock David Vial virtually in the opening minute, on the back of a clever grubber kick into the in-goal area by Toufic Nicolas. The creative Jets fullback scored Newtown?s third try fifteen minutes later when he dashed in under the posts after supporting a strong break by winger Adam Sarkis.

The Jets effectively won this match with their unyielding defensive performance in the second half, at one stage repelling an astonishing five consecutive sets of possession to Cabramatta in Newtown?s twenty-metre zone. Cabramatta appeared mentally exhausted from that point onwards and the Jets administered the coup de grace with a try to tough front-rower Ritchie Parker four minutes from full-time. This drama-packed win had much of the character of some of Newtown?s Metro Cup finals victories in the mid-1990?s.

Once again Newtown?s forwards played as a solid unit, with the best being Matt Habojan, Zoran Ilijoski, Ritchie Parker, Billy Baleilomaloma and Rimini Reweti. Lively Adam Bennett played well from the bench while Toufic Nicolas and winger Anton La Vin were the best of the backline.

Next Saturday (September 23rd) shapes up as one of the biggest days for the Newtown Jets since the club re-entered the senior Rugby League ranks in 1991. In the VB Premier League Preliminary Final at Telstra Stadium at 3.30pm, Newtown takes on the in-form St George-Illawarra Dragons, with the Jim Beam Cup premiership decider being allocated the major curtain-raiser timeslot. In the 2006 Jim Beam Cup Grand Final, Newtown is matched against the Sydney Bulls with this match kicking off at 5.30pm.

Newtown Jets supporters will be advised by email in which Telstra Stadium bay number they should purchase their tickets, in order to form a solid bloc of royal blue supporters for this grand club occasion.

Photo: Adam Bennett was Newtown?s ?super substitute? in Saturday?s Preliminary Final win over Cabramatta. Photo supplied courtesy of Gary Sutherland Photography.