Lady Luck deserts the Sydney
Airport Jets

This was another case of what might have been for the Sydney Airport Jets, when they lost 40-26 to the second-placed Penrith-St.Marys Cougars at the Western Weekender Stadium on Saturday. The Cougars, grand finalists in 2003, had led Newtown 24-8 after thirty minutes and looked like running away with the match. Converted tries to Newtown right on half-time and immediately upon resumption had the Jets back in the hunt at 24-20. Jets' second rower Bill Najjarin, centre Nelson Leon and winger Alf Duncan combined midway through the second half for what will have to be one of this season's most exhilarating tries. With barely ten minutes remaining on the clock and Newtown trailing 30-26, Duncan went agonisingly close to scoring after a thrilling dash down the left-hand touchline. The Cougars hit back quickly with a scrambling try from a miscued kick, and from that point took control of the game from the tiring Jets. Newtown paid the price for a lopsided penalty count and for repeated defensive positional lapses on the left-hand side in the first half. The final scoreline gives no indication of what a desperately close struggle this match was and of the physical effort put in by the Newtown forwards. Second rower Phillip Leuluai had an exceptional game, highlighted by an amazing twenty-six hit-ups and some awesome tackling. Craig Field scored two smartly taken trademark tries and did everything he could to rally his team-mates. Bill Najjarin is back to his top form, and made some powerful surges wide of the ruck area. Five-eighth Luke Young, son of former Newtown half-back Phil Young, suffered a broken rib late in the second half and will be out of action for at least a month. This team is more than capable of winning its fair share of games in the VB Premier League competition, but there are no points awarded for running a gallant second in the harsh reality of Rugby League football. The Sydney Airport Jets are back at Henson Park this Saturday (April 17) when they take on neighbouring South Sydney in a VB Premier League local derby at 3.40pm. In the Jim Beam Cup curtain-raiser starting at 2.00pm, Newtown hosts The Entrance.