Sea Eagles suffer defeats in home triple header
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered three defeats in a triple header at 4 Pines Park on Saturday in the NSWRL Junior Representative competitions.
Jersey Flegg
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles went down 28-24 in Round 4 of the Jersey Flegg Cup to the Canberra Raiders in a thrilling match.
The lead changed four times throughout the first half alone and the Sea Eagles went close to bringing it back, but were unable to catch up as the Raiders ran away victorious.
Canberra opened the scoring after one minute off the back of a chargedown for a 4-0 lead before Manly replied five minutes later through winger Cameron Brown after back-rower Zane Dunford did well to hold the ball up to drag the Canberra winger in. Five-eighth Donovan Boney was successful with his conversion for a 6-4 lead.
The Raiders went to a 10-6 lead in the 14th minute after a try from centre Josh Billing before Brown scored his second in the 25th minute off a kick for a 12-10 lead.
Canberra scored in the final seconds of the half in the right corner right for a 16-12 lead.
An early try to the Raiders saw them stretch their lead to 22-12 before Manly winger Sanele Aukusitino finished off a phenomenal run from Boney. Halfback Jamie Humphreys converted for a 22-18 scoreline.
Manly had a number of chances within the next 10 minutes but was held up twice over the line before Casey scored his second for a 10-point lead.
Prop James Uesele dived over next to the posts to score in the 68th minute, giving Manly a sliver of hope for a 28-24 scoreline but were unable to pull the margin back.
SG Ball Cup
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles lost 40-24 to the Western Suburbs Magpies in the SG Ball Cup.
The Sea Eagles got off to poor start to trail 22-0 after 19 minutes before Manly scored their r first try in the 23rd minute through captain Kobe Fulton. The hooker faked a pass out left before twisting out of a tackle to crash over a defender for the try. Half-back Tylor Bunting was successful with his conversion for a 22-6 scoreline.
Prop Samuela Fainu then scored Manly’s second try after good lead up work by Antonie Taufa. Bunting converted to leave the home side trailing 22-12 at the break.
Unfortunately, three early tries saw Wests lead 36-12 after 54 minutes.
The Sea Eagles scored their third try when forward Kaylan Faumui grounded the ball underneath the posts after great work by Bunting to beat the full-back for a 36-18 scoreline.
Manly centre Josh Feledy then scored in the next set who used his speed to beat the defence before turning the fullback inside out with some smart footwork for a 36-24 scoreline.
The Magpies secured victory four minutes from full-time for the 40-24 victory.
Harold Matthews Cup
The Sea Eagles suffered a 42-4 loss to the Western Suburbs Magpies at 4 Pines Park in the Harold Matthews Cup.
The Magpies scored four tries in nine minutes for an early 22-0 lead with the Sea Eagles scoring their only try in the 21st minute through hooker Jake Fulton after he burrowed his way over the line.
Trailing 22-4 at half-time, the Magpies had two tries in the opening five minutes of the second half and almost had another in the 40th minute if not for Manly winger Nepote Taufa, who hit the ball out with a try-saving tackle on the sideline.
Manly second-rower Mitchell Taotua was sent to the sin-bin as the Magpies utilised the numbers advantage with another two tries to extend their lead to 42-4.
