League: Jets outclass sluggish lions

The Auckland Lions were brought down to earth with a thud yesterday by a 38-18 home defeat at the hands of Newtown Jets in the NSW Premier League.

Kiwis five-eighths Jerome Ropati was a late withdrawal from the Lions, who paid the price for a sluggish, error-ridden first-half display during which they struggled to contain the class of Jets centre Amos Roberts.

Roberts, a Sydney Roosters regular first grader, scored two of the visitors' three tries as they cruised to a 16-0 halftime lead.

Converted tries to wing Malo Solomona and reserve Lui Toamoana shortly into the second half gave the Lions brief hope before Roberts completed his hat-trick to ease the Jets clear.