Manly Warringah Sea Eagles recorded a thrilling last minute victory over the Canberra Raiders today.
In front of a crowd of 13, 113, the Sea Eagles led 16-8 at half-time before trailing 24-20 after 71 minutes.
The Sea Eagles then snatched a 26-24 victory with a try to Brett Stewart.
The Sea Eagles opened the scoring in the fourth minute when halves Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans combined to send centre Steve Matai over for a try. Centre and captain Jamie Lyon converted for a 6-0 lead.
Manly Warringah winger Jorge Taufua was placed on report for a shoulder charge after colliding with Canberra full-back Jack Wighton in-goal.
The Sea Eagles went to a 10-0 lead when Lyon got on the outside of his man to score in the right corner. Lyon was at it again a few minutes later when he popped a ball inside to send Justin Horo into open space before he linked up with Brett Stewart for the full-back to score. Lyon converted for a 16-0 lead after 29 minutes.
The Raiders opened their account in the 36th minute when a short flat pass from dummy half saw Paul Vaughan beat the outstretched hand of Horo to crash over. Centre and captain Jarrod Croker converted to leave Canberra trailing 16-6.
Lyon was unlucky not to score his second try in the 39th minute when he got on the outside of his man again only for the ball to be knocked loose from his grasp with the tryline in front of him.
Croker converted a penalty goal after half-time to leave the Raiders trailing 16-8 at the break.
2nd Half
The Raiders reduced the margin to four points when winger Edrick Lee saw the ball fumble into his hands for him to race 80 metres to score. Croker converted to leave the Raiders trailing 16-14 after 52 minutes.
Canberra took the lead for the first time in the 58th minute through a try to five-eighth Blake Austin for an 18-16 lead. Croker converted for a 20-16 lead.
The Raiders stretched their lead to 24-16 in the 68th minute when Jarrad Kennedy scored after Stewart was waiting for the ball to bounce over the sideline. Instead, Lee tackled Stewart as the ball bounced back inside for Kennedy to score. The try was not converted.
Lyon grabbed his second try in the 71st minute when he placed the ball down in the right corner to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 24-20. The try was not converted.
Just a minute before the full time whistle, Manly burst through the Canberra line with Daly Cherry-Evans running straight through to lay off a pass for Brett Stewart to score a last gasp try for the Sea Eagles. Jamie Lyon converted to seal a 26-24 win over the Raiders.
