A slick display from the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles saw them record a devastating 52-0 victory over St George Dragons in their first Tarsha Gale Cup match today.
The Sea Eagles ran in four converted tries to lead 24-0 at half-time at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium before going on with the job in fine style under new Coach Keith Hanley.
Krystal Weekes came off the interchange bench to score three of Manly's 10 tries. She is the sister of former Manly NRL player Kaeo Weekes.
Manly had a round one bye weekend while the Dragons went down 40-0 to Penrith away. It is the second year for the Sea Eagles in the U19s competition.
The Sea Eagles did everything right to score in the second minute after a good run by centre Teuwira Rameka-Keremete only to be tackled inches from the line.
However, the Sea Eagles were not to be denied in the ninth minute when half-back Danii Nicole Gray crashed over in the same spot. She converted her own try for a 6-0 lead.
The Sea Eagles then produced some razzle dazzle down the right side before winger Jordarna Barber offloaded a superb one handed pass back inside for centre Aleksandra Tunufai to stroll around to score behind the posts for a 12-0 lead after 16 minutes.
Manly were in again when prop Indiana Russell-Lia barged over under the posts for an 18-0 lead three minutes from half-time.
Two minutes later, Russell-Lia grabbed her second try under the posts to give Manly a 24-0 lead at half-time.
Some smooth hands saw the Sea Eagles go to a 30-0 lead a minute after half-time through a try to Krystal Weekes.
The Sea Eagles were in again in the following set of six after two players managed to offload in traffic for second-rower Dena-Leigh Broughton to dive over out wide for a 34-0 lead.
Manly then toyed with the desperate Dragons defence with co-captain and five-eighth Matisse Bettridge throwing a classic dummy to crash over for a 38-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
It became 42-0 when Weekes scored her second try after falling over the line from a dummy half pass three minutes later.
Weekes then grabbed her hat-trick when she found some open space on the Dragons left side to score out wide for a 46-0 lead with 11 minutes remaining.
The Sea Eagles brought up their half century when giant prop Araiterangi Karaitiana simply barged her way through a defender to score under the posts for a 52-0 lead with five minutes to go.
