Eagles land to ground Jets

SOUTH COAST RUGBY LEAGUE

Shoalhaven Jets have suffered their first loss of the VB South Coast Group 7 Rugby League season going down to reigning premiers Albion Park-Oak Flats in a thrilling encounter at the Nowra Showground yesterday.

The opening exchanges were fierce and Albion Park certainly had the better of the early field position.

But it was the Jets who opened the scoring in the sixth minute on their first excursion into the Eagles’ half.

Play swung from the western side of the field to the east in a sweeping backline movement with big back rower Patrick Masoe getting a good ball away to flying winger Buddy Braddick who went over in the corner untouched.

Leigh Ardler converted from the sideline and Jets led 6-nil.

The Park hit back in the 13th minute when five-eighth Danni Sartori dance through some lax defence on the Jets’ line – Cole Skelly converted and it was 6-all.

The Park took the lead in the 22nd minutes when young centre Jacob Boon made a great run of 55 metres beating defenders with a good step and swerve before outpacing the cover defence to score out wide.

Skelly added the extras and the Park had a six-point buffer 12-6.

The Jets next try was miraculous – forward Andrew Preston had only taken the field five seconds earlier when he was in to score,

Half-back Mick Salafia regathered his own chip kicked, but his pass went to ground, it was regathered by Geoff Johnson who put Preston back on the side and her burst through a couple of defenders to score adjacent to the posts. Ardler converted and it was all tied up again 12-all.

Glenn Roberts then put the Park out to an 18-12 advantage in the 30th minute when he sliced through again some loose defence out wide.

Skelly missed the conversion and despite enterprising play by both sides that was the half-time score.

The Jets started the second half disastrously, but they made amends in the 12th minute when Ben Wellington powered his way through the defence to score out wide.

The Park seemed to get on top at this stage and bombarded the Jets’ defence, but to the home side’s credit it held firm.

They looked to have scored but referee Nolan ruled Adam Bezzina had made a double movement, but just four minutes later there was no denying the Park when a perfectly weighted Bezzina kick found Adam Lucas open to score out wide. Skelly converted and the Park led 20-18.

The Park continued to pound the Jets’ line, and after receiving a penalty adjacent to the posts with four minutes remaining opted for the two points, which Skelly again converted to put the lead out to six.

Despite the Jets finishing strongly and having back-to-back sets at the Eagles inside their quarter in the last minute they couldn’t break the line and eventually went down 24-18.

Outstanding for the Park was Cole Skelly, while Dean Gray, Steve Butfield and Jade Lucas were strong, while Ben Wellington was the Jets’ best along with Patrick Masoe, Geoff Johnson and Billy Brown.