Fielding a young and inexperienced line up the Newtown Jets have been beaten 48-14 by the Wyong Roos at Central Coast Stadium.
Featuring three Sharks NYC players and a number of Newtown debutants, the Jets won plenty of admirers for their grit and effort but in the end were no match for a quality Wyong side.
The competition leading Roos showed their class early, with two tries wide out, both converted from near touch, giving them a 12-0 lead.
Wyong added to that advantage to lead 18-0, before the Jets enjoyed a greater share of possession and some improved field position and they were rewarded for their efforts, centre Jesse Ramien scoring strong try adjacent to the posts.
Ramien’s Sharks under-20’s teammate Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga added the extras and the Jets were back in touch at 18-6 behind.
Unfortunately their first half comeback was short-lived, Wyong scoring again just before the break to give the Roosters feeded club a 24-6 lead at half time.
In a game played in bright sunshine the Jets found some energy in the opening moments of the second period, camping in Wyong's end before Ramien displayed impressive strength to get the ball down in the corner despite the attention of a couple of defenders.
Aufaga-Toomaga was wide with his kick but Newtown were showing outstanding resolve in working their way back into the contest.
Shortly after their enthusiasm went up another notch when a determined Kurt Kara scored after a Roos error and while the conversion was again waved away the Jets were starting to believe at 24-14 down.
They looked to have inched even closer when Kara reached out and tried to touch down from close range however the try was disallowed and with less than 20-minutes remaining, Newtown hopes may have disappeared at the same time.
The near miss proved even more costly when a break down the right hand side resulted in a try to Roos hooker Grant Garvey and the brave Newtown comeback had come to an end.
Two tries to Wyong, both after the Jets failed to defuse sixth tackle kicks, then after two more successful conversions from Josh Manellato it was 42-14, before a long-range try on full time completed the scoring.
The Jets will now try to go back to the drawing board as they slipped outside the top eight and with plenty of work to do if they hope to qualify for the ISP finals.
Jets 14
Jesse Ramien 2, Kurt Kara tries, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga goal
Lost to
Wyong 48
