Newtown?Sharks combination gets
away to an impressive start

The Sydney Airport Jets, reinforced by nine Cronulla-Sutherland players as part of the two clubs? 2005 partnership deal, finished too strongly for North Sydney in Saturday?s VB Premier League trial match at Henson Park. Newtown won 28-4, with several of the Sharks contingent among the stand-out performers. The match also doubled as the first leg of the annual three-game Frank Hyde Shield series between the two 1908 foundation Rugby League clubs.

Newtown made heavy weather of the first half, with the Bears frustrating their opponents with determined defence and spoiling tactics. The third and fourth quarters showed what a strong combination this Sydney Airport Jets Premier League team potentially can be, as they laid on several unanswered tries.

Classy Cameron Ciraldo, from the Sharks 2004 Jersey Flegg Grand Final team, was deservedly man of the match, and received strong support from fellow forwards Kevin Kingston, James Stosic and big David Thompson (ex-Bulldogs, Cowboys and Souths). Nathan Merritt (two tries) and David Hall were Newtown?s best backs.

The Sydney Airport Jets Jim Beam Cup trial team did not fare so well against the Bears Jersey Flegg squad, conceding several intercept tries in going down by 28-8. This team is bound to improve when the players form into a better combination.

In the NSWRL VB Sevens tournament played at St.Marys on Saturday, the Newtown side was well led by club stalwart Luke Ellis, but the team was eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the competition.

The Sydney Airport Jets head into central western NSW for next Saturday?s trial match, when they take on the Group 11 representative team at Parkes. This game is the main curtain raiser for the Roosters-Parramatta official NRL trial at Pioneer Oval, Parkes which is expected to draw a crowd in excess of 12,000 country Rugby League fans.