Wounded Jets no match for rampant Roosters

The Sydney Airport Jets' lengthy injury list was painfully obvious in the NSW Premier League match at Henson Park on Saturday, when the Jets crashed out 46-6 to the Sydney Roosters.

Most of the first choice Newtown backline are currently out of action, and several other players went into this match carrying injuries.

The Jets were well in the game at half-time when they trailed 12-6, but the Roosters ran right away with the match in the second half.

Jets coach Colin Murphy has appealed for all Newtown supporters to appreciate the severity of this spate of injuries and to stick solid with the team through an extremely tough patch.

Several players have toughed it out for the past few weeks carrying injuries, but even such stoicism eventually has its limits.

The Roosters targeted the more vulnerable areas of Newtown's backline defence with considerable effect, scoring seven tries in the second half.

The best of the beleaguered Jets were forwards Aaron Trinder and Joe Lichaa, while Craig West, Wissam El Masri, Craig Field and Andrew Le Breton had their moments in the backline. Lichaa and hooker Luke Sant clocked up forty-five tackles each.

Newtown's Jim Beam Cup team gave another whole-hearted performance, going down to competition leaders The Entrance 32-22.

The Jets laid on some of the best tries of the game, with plenty of skill and enterprise on show in the tries scored by half-back Frank Reid and centre Matty Rose.

Other Newtown players to impress were skipper Luke Ellis and front-rowers Aaron Sweeney and Lee Trasler. This young team's brave performance was all the more meritorious in view of the sub-standard refereeing exhibition and the virtual "license to maim" extended to the visitors.

Congratulations to Jets five-eighth Clayton Sellings, who was named in the Jim Beam Cup Colts team to play the Emerging States, in a curtain-raiser to the upcoming Australia - New Zealand Test Match on Friday, July 25.

The Sydney Airport Jets are away in both grades this weekend. On Saturday (July 19), Newtown plays Balmain in the NSW Premier League at Leichhardt Oval, with this match starting at 3.00 pm. In the Jim Beam Cup, Newtown plays Souths Juniors on Sunday (July 20) at Erskineville Oval, with this game kicking off at 3.00 pm.