Newtown Rugby League Football Club - Established 1908
Rd17 - Jets overpowered by in-form Bulldogs [20-42]

The Newtown Jets and Canterbury-Bankstown played their 17th round VB NSW Cup fixture at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday due to the unavailability of the Bulldogs' Belmore stronghold.

Canterbury has won the NSW Cup premiership for the past three seasons and Saturday's match saw the Dogs (in 3rd place) pitted against the 4th placed Jets.

The Bulldogs led 24-16 at halftime and proved too experienced and strong in the second half, drawing away to a 42-20 victory.

Jets pull back lead in first half

The Bulldogs ran up an 18-0 lead by the 20th minute of the first half and looked to be on track for a comfortable win. The Jets responded through a remarkably-determined try to centre Adam Henry, followed in quick time by another try to fullback Alofa Alofa that had Newtown back in the game at 18-10 in arrears.

The Bulldogs were proving to be very dangerous whenever they had the ball at Newtown's end as they displayed plenty of speed and variety in attack. Canterbury increased their lead to 24-10 but the Jets returned fire with a splendid try to front-rower Isaac Liu, following some quality lead-up work by Daniel Mortimer and Josh Ailaomai. Newtown went in at halftime trailing by 24-16.

Penalties bring no joy to Jets in second half

The Jets made a terrible start to the second half, conceding an easy try to the Bulldogs who increased their lead to 30-16.

Newtown then defended their line for an extended period despite being put under great pressure from the Dogs. Penalties gave Canterbury valuable territory plus their big forwards were getting their offloads game going.

The Jets enforced two consecutive goal-line drop-outs by the Bulldogs and second-rower Anthony Cherrington made a great charge towards the tryline, only to suffer a match-ending ankle injury.

Canterbury ensured their win through two quick tries fifteen minutes out from fulltime. Jets winger Daniel Tupou scored Newtown's fourth try but the Bulldogs had the final say, adding an unconverted try right on the fulltime siren.

Player performances

Once the big Canterbury forwards started getting their offloads away, they created a steamroller effect that the younger Jets pack found difficult to counteract. The Bulldogs speed men hurt Newtown on the edges but even so the Jets were still in the game at halftime.

Newtown needed a strong start to the second half but when the reverse happened, the Dogs grabbed control of the game and didn't let the Jets back into contention.

Young Jets prop Isaac Liu maintained his strong form while Dylan Napa, on debut from the Sydney Roosters Toyota Cup squad, earned his spurs as a front-rower by being sin-binned early in the first half.

Napa didn't shirk the tough physical contact and received full-on support from the former Auckland Vulcans forward Saulala Houma and firebrand prop Josh Ailaomai.

Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck showed his extensive evasive skills whenever he brought the ball out from his own line.

Isaac Liu won't be denied and scores beside the post	Saulala Houma hits the line hard in his second match for the Bluebags
Photos courtesy of Gary Sutherland

Match summary

Newtown 20 [Alofa Alofa, Adam Henry, Isaac Liu, Daniel Tupou tries; Blake Lazarus 2 goals.]
Canterbury-Bankstown 42 [8 tries; 5 goals]

Officials: Referee, Matt Noyen; Touch judges, David Ryan, Matt Damaso.
Weather: Fine, sunny, mild.

Next game

There is a general bye in the VB NSW Cup competition this weekend as the NSW Cup representative team prepares to take on their Queensland counterparts in the main curtain-raiser to State of Origin III in Brisbane.

Newtown's next game is away to the Auckland Vulcans at the Mt Smart No. 2 Stadium in Auckland on Saturday, 7 July.