For at least half the contest the Jets first night game at home in a decade was going according to plan when the Newtown side went to the break ahead by 14-10.
Considering the Jets were down on troops with a number of player withdrawals before the match, the commitment shown in the first 40 minutes was more than commendable.
However while they hung in for as long as they were able, in the end it was the Illawarra Cutters running away with the points in claiming a 42-14 victory over the Newtown side.
On a chilly night at Henson Park the Jets began well, a Fa’amanu Brown try, converted by the five eighth, made it 6-0 in what was an enterprising beginning.
The Cutters responded before Brown was in again, this time missing with the conversion but at 10-4 hopes were high of a positive result in a match where the winner would take third spot on the Intrust Super Premiership ladder.
Illawarra made it 10-all, until the Jets other Brown, fullback and skipper Mitch, ran 80-metes to score in a spectacular solo effort.
Despite fielding a team short on experience but full of enthusiasm, the Jets would take that four-point lead to the half time break at 14-10 in front.
From almost the time the teams returned from the sheds however the Cutters began to take control.
Drew Hutchison scored twice, both tries converted by Levi Dodd and Illawarra had a handy eight point advantage at 22-14, a score that would remain the same until the 68th minute of the contest.
After that though it would be one-way traffic, the Cutters scoring almost at will in taking the final tally out to 42, a score which didn’t reflect the effort of the Jets or the difference between the two teams.
Following two big losses the Jets now need to turn around their fortunes next weekend and in assisting that they should welcome back a handful of players including Josh Cleeland, Kurt Capewell, Anthony Moraitis and possibly Junior Roqica, with all players due to return after missing tonight’s game due to injury.
NEWTOWN 14
Fa’amanu Brown 2. Mitch Brown tries, Fa’amanu Brown goal
Lost to
ILLAWARRA CUTTERS 42
