Manly Warringah tuned up for the Holden Cup finals next week with a 52-6 thumping of Cronulla Sharks at Remondis Stadium today.
Heading into the match having already secured fourth place for the finals, the Sea Eagles had little trouble in putting away the lowly placed Sharks to finish the regular season.
The Sea Eagles opened the scoring in the fourth minute when centre Addison Demetriou found open space to send second-rower William Bainbridge over. Demetriou converted the try for a 6-0 lead.
Manly Warringah stretched their lead to 10-0 in the 10th minute when a grubber kick by half-back Riley Travers saw winger Jesse Bogle dive on the ball to score. Demetriou converted the try from the sideline for a 12-0 lead.
The scoreline jumped to 16-0 when winger Mitch Thomas dived over in the right corner.
Demetriou then got in on the tryscoring action when he used his brute strength to brush off three defenders to score. He converted his own try for a 22-0 lead.
Bogle grabbed his second try when he dived on a grubber kick to score. Demetriou failed to convert the try for a 26-0 lead after as many minutes.
A grubber kick from Will Pearsall saw Nicho Hynes fall on the ball to score in the 32nd minute. Demetriou failed to convert for a 30-0 lead.
Demetriou stretched the lead to 32-0 when he converted a penalty goal from in front much to the bemusement of Coach David Heath who was wondering why the on-field decision was made to not go for the try.
2nd Half
Prop Liam Knight got the scoring going again when he strolled over next to the posts after ood support from a kick. Demetriou converted for a 38-0 lead.
Demetriou then showed how fast ‘The Steamroller’ can run in open space when he broke away to score his second try. He converted his own try for a 44-0 lead.
James Parker got on the tryscorers list himself when he dived over in the 74th minute for a 48-0 lead. Demetriou converted for a 50-0 lead.
Demetriou then converted a penalty goal for a 52-0 lead before the Sharks scored a converted consolation try at the end for the 52-6 scoreline.
