Sharks ? Jets Strategic Alliance
Starts To Generate Dividends.

The strategic partnership forged between the Cronulla-Sutherland and Newtown clubs is proving to be a very successful coalition indeed. The Sharks are currently equal leaders in the NRL and Jersey Flegg competitions, while the Sydney Airport Jets are now in equal second position in the VB Premier League and third on the Jim Beam Cup table.

On the weekend, the Sydney Airport Jets won their VB Premier League match against North Sydney at North Sydney Oval by 32-16, after leading by 22-4 at half-time. Newtown?s Jim Beam Cup team had a morale-boosting 21-14 win over Cabramatta after trailing 14-10 at the break.

In the Jets-Bears encounter, Newtown?s win was underpinned by a solid first half with the big Newtown forwards dictating terms to the home team. All the good work of the first half could have been brought undone as the plucky Bears fought back in the second stanza, and only a desperation try-saving tackle by Jets winger John Sinisa prevented Norths from getting back into the match mid-way through the second half. Newtown?s win decided the destination of the Frank Hyde Shield for 2005, with the Jets already being one-up in this three-match series between the two 1908 foundation clubs, having won the first leg in an official trial match at Henson Park back in February.

Newtown was best served in the forwards by hooker Geoff Johnson, second rowers Jon Green and Andrew Lomu, and front-rowers Keith Galloway and James Stosic. Johnson, a product of the Narrandera club in the western Riverina, made 40 tackles, showed plenty of variety at dummy-half, and scored a smart try at a critical stage of the match. He was deservedly judged man of the match and showed all the benefits of the months of hard work he had put in during the off-season.

While this was a victory largely won by the hard-grafting forwards, Newtown?s best backs were halves David Hall and Russell Aitken (who both scored tries) and winger John Sinisa who was replacing the injured Dimitri Pelo.

Newtown?s victory in the Jim Beam Cup match at Cabramatta showed great character, given the large number of late changes to the team. The Jets displayed plenty of armour-plated resolve in keeping the home team scoreless in the second half, and in playing tough to grab what may turn out to be a very valuable win as the season progresses.

Newtown?s best forwards were David Buckley, David Vial, Kiel Roberts, Rimini Reweti and the tireless Tommy Gemmell. John Berkley, Rodney Peake and Anthony Farah were the best performers in the backline. Coach Greg Matterson praised all of his players for the gritty determination they had all shown.

Next Saturday (May 7th) the Sydney Airport Jets are back at Henson Park, when they take on the Bulldogs in the VB Premier League local derby starting at 3.00pm. In the Jim Beam Cup competition, Newtown travels to the far north-west to play the competition leaders Windsor on Friday night (May 6th), with this match kicking off at 7.00pm.

Newtown?s affiliate club the Parkes Spacemen in Group 11 won all three grades on Sunday against the Wellington Cowboys, highlighted by a free-scoring 46-34 win in First Grade.