Newtown Jets show promising form in
win over Bears

There were plenty of Rugby League celebrities on hand when the Newtown Jets took on North Sydney in the opening VB Premier League trial match at Henson Park on Saturday evening. Sydney Roosters Chairman Nick Politis and several of his fellow Board members kept a close eye on proceedings, while former Balmain Tigers greats Wayne Pearce and Steve Roach were also interested spectators. The Roosters NRL and newly installed Australian coach Ricky Stuart and Newtown Jets head coach Paul Young carefully monitored the form of triallists in all three games during the afternoon.

The Newtown Jets, reinforced by quality players from their new partners the Sydney Roosters, had to stage a come from behind victory in their VB Premier League trial against the North Sydney Bears. The Jets won an entertaining match by 28-26, after Norths had led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. The injection of multi-talented half-back Jamie Soward after quarter-time reaped immediate dividends for Newtown, with Soward being directly involved in all three of the Jets second quarter converted tries.

Newtown Jets coach Paul Young reports that he regarded this as a very useful trial match indeed. It was his first opportunity to observe his new charges under match conditions, and despite the inevitable untidiness associated with using 28 players in a match, he is confident that there is a very solid basis to work with as the first round of the 2006 premiership competition rapidly approaches on the 12th March.

Roosters NRL coach Ricky Stuart addressed the Premier League players at half-time in their match, no doubt the first time that the current Australian Test team coach has spoken to Newtown players in the Henson Park dressing rooms for many years.

In the Jim Beam Cup curtain-raiser match, Newtown trailed Asquith by 10-4 at half-time but finished strongly to take out this trial game by 22-10. Coach Greg Matterson was mindful of Newtown?s early-season mistake rate but praised his players for their willingness to defend determinedly for extended periods of the game. Newtown utilised 27 players in this game and showed there was a useful body of material to work with for the new season. Several Sydney Roosters officials commented favourably on the quality of Newtown?s reserves talent on display.

Jim Dymock?s Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg squad showed what a formidable proposition they are going to be for their opponents this year, when they demolished North Sydney by 56-12 earlier on Saturday afternoon.

The Newtown Jets have a busy program of trial matches next weekend. One squad will travel to the Central Coast Stadium, Gosford next Saturday (February 18th) to play as the main curtain-raiser to the Roosters v Manly-Warringah official NRL trial. The VB Premier League trial against the Sea Eagles kicks off at 5.30pm.

On Sunday (February 19th), the full-strength Newtown VB Premier League squad is at home at Henson Park to the Bulldogs, with this popular local derby trial match due to start at 5.00pm. Given the excellent attendance at Saturday?s match against North Sydney, there?s bound to be even greater interest in the Newtown-Bulldogs local derby trial at Henson Park this Sunday.

Caption:
Giant Newtown second rower David Vial, pictured scoring in a 2005 Jim Beam Cup game, impressed Roosters officials at Henson Park on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Gary Sutherland Photography.