Jets brought undone

A sub-standard second half performance by the Newtown Jets put paid to any winning chance in Saturday evening?s VB Premier League fifth round match against Cronulla-Sutherland at Toyota Park. The Jets had trailed by 16-12 at half-time and were still hanging in at 28-18 down with fifteen minutes remaining. Three tries to the Sharks in the last eight minutes of the match blew Cronulla?s final winning margin out to 44-18.

The lethal combination of a poor completion rate, dropped ball, missed tackles and penalty infringements proved to be Newtown?s undoing in the second half. The Jets had led by 12-10 with only two minutes left in the first half, but failure to find the line from a penalty kick gifted the Sharks vital possession which they turned into a converted try virtually on the half-time siren.

Newtown?s front-rowers Glenn Hall and Steve Meredith showed the way by jointly topping the team tackle count as well as by their repeated fearless charges with the ball into the Sharks defence. Centre Vince Mellars, playing against his former Cronulla team-mates, turned in his strongest performance this season. A spate of injuries in the Roosters NRL team is sure to result in several call-ups from the Jets VB Premier League ranks for next weekend.

Newtown?s affiliate club in Group 11, the Parkes Spacemen, had a runaway 58-20 win at home against neighbouring Manildra. The Spacemen began their season by defeating Forbes last weekend and now sit proudly on top of the Group 11 first grade premiership table.

The Jets are back at Henson Park on Easter Saturday (April 15th) when they take on the Balmain Tigers in a traditional inner-western local derby. Given that the Jets and the Tigers are only drawn to meet once this year, the Trevor Ryan-Neil Pringle Shield contested by the two foundation clubs goes on the line this Saturday at Henson Park, with this VB Premier League match kicking off at 3.00pm. In the opening round of the 2006 Jim Beam Cup competition, Newtown travels to Erina on Good Friday (April 14th) with this match due to start at 2.30pm.

Photo caption:
Newtown Jets hooker Luke Gordon attempts to break through against the Sharks defence at Toyota Park on Saturday evening.

Photo courtesy of Gary Sutherland Photography.