Rabbitohs let off again against
Newtown

The Sydney Airport Jets Premier League squad travelled home from Gosford on Saturday night collectively wondering: "How on earth didn't we come away with the competition points tonight?" In a match that had several similarities to the narrow defeat against South Sydney at Henson Park three weeks ago, Newtown dominated the majority of the game, only to have victory snatched away just three minutes from full-time. Newtown had led 10-0 at half-time and 16-6 midway through the second half, but once again proved incapable of defending their lead at the business end of the match, losing out to the Rabbitohs by 18-16.

What made this such a soul-destroying loss was that the match statistics all point to a strong team performance by the Jets - excellent completion rates, plenty of yardage gained by a rampaging forward back, and a number of quality individual performances. Negative features were the inability to turn favourable field position into points on the board, plus the continued tendency to concede penalties and to push the occasional wayward pass.

Newtown's forwards again showed they can dominate any pack in this competition. Dan Manousso, James Stosic, Nelson Lomi, Phillip Leuluai, big Cliff Manua and Paul Skinner all tore into their opponents with great vigour and deserved to collect winning bonuses. Andrew Le Breton, Ben Vaeau, Ben Cook and Sioeli Helu were the best of the backs. Le Breton in particular is having a tremendous season and must be coming into representative consideration.

The Sydney Airport Jets came away empty-handed in the Jim Beam Cup as well, going down to Woy Woy by 30-24 after having led 24-12. Callan Myles was Newtown's standout player, and is showing the form that led his former High School coach Lionel Williamson to recommend him to the Bulldogs two years ago.

Newtown is at home at Henson Park this Saturday (May 22) to the Canberra Raiders in the VB Premier League, with this match starting at 3.00pm. The Jets play away in the Jim Beam Cup to Cabramatta on Sunday (May 23) at Cabramatta Oval.