Matt Handcock in action for the Cutters against the Jets. Picture: ROBERT PEET
NSW CUP
NEWTOWN 30 CUTTERS 10
Dragons players Jack de Belin and Daniel Vidot were both placed on report for separate incidents for the Illawarra Cutters during their 30-10 round one NSW Cup loss to Newtown.
De Belin, who had been sin binned for a professional foul just after half-time, was placed on report for an alleged lifting tackle in the 66th minute.
Vidot and Jets interchange forward Ray Moujalli were sin binned and placed on report following a skirmish near the finish of the match, played at WIN Stadium.
De Belin received a head knock and was treated by medical staff after the game.
Discipline issues aside he was outstanding for the Cutters, who were otherwise disappointing in their season opener.
The Jets led 18-10 at half-time and went on to win not only the game but the inaugural Tom Kirk Cup.
"In the lead up to it I suppose someone had to be disappointed and it was us today," Cutters coach Paul McGregor said.
"It's our home. This is what we need to protect and we didn't do that today.
"I thought in terms of intensity, they were too good.
"At half-time, we needed to fix a few things which was our 'D', which we did.
"We had one man down there and we only had 33 per cent possession and we only lost the second half by a try then they scored one late.
"That was the pleasing thing.
"But 33 per cent in the second half, we were riddled with errors.
"We had the ball in total for 11 minutes in the whole half.
"You don't win football games against premiers like that.
"The most disappointing thing is we played the premiers at our home ground and didn't match them in enthusiasm and intensity or our energy."
Newtown winger Chris Taripo was on target with his goalkicking, landing five from five.
The Jets had a 12-0 lead after just eight minutes with tries to second-rower Josh Ailaomai and centre Usaia O'Sullivan.
The Cutters hit back to make it 12-4 in the 11th minute when a long pass from five-eighth John Kennedy sent left winger Gus Agia over.
Newtown soaked up enormous pressure from the Cutters, then when they had an opportunity to score and big forward Saulala Houma crashed over for a try.
A try to Kennedy in the 38th minute, converted by halfback Josh Drinkwater, trimmed the Jets' lead to 18-10 at the interval.
Newtown stretched the break to 24-10 in the 63rd minute when hooker Nafe Seluini slipped through from dummy-half.
The Jets iced the game in the 79th minute when Houma scored his second try.