Manly Leagues recorded their best win of the season with a 28-12 victory over competition leaders St Marys at 4 Pines Park on Saturday in round seven of the Sydney Shield.
The Sea Eagles took to the field with 11 local Manly juniors under Coach Anthony Watmough as the club builds a path towards a stronger, more vibrant future for players on the Northern Beaches.
The Sydney Shield is the NSWRL’s fourth tier men’s competition, feeding into the Ron Massey Cup for both emerging and senior players.
Manly were looking forward to testing themselves against the leaders and they did that and more, laying on three quick first half tries through Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota, Joshua Buttenshaw, and Remi Mant.
St Marys brought the match back to a six point ball game before two late tries from Manly Leagues cemented their second win of the season.
Manly Leagues were quick to open up their account in the fifth minute through some lovely ball playing from hooker Thomas Thelander, who scooted out of dummy half to find a rampaging Mariota for a 6-0 lead.
Soaring with momentum, Manly quickly turned one try into two in a matter of minutes after Buttenshaw was on the end of some free flowing footy and an inch perfect offload from prop Remi Mant for a 12-0 lead after eight minutes.
Thelander then showcased his skills out of dummy half to put Mant over for Manly's third try in 13 minutes for an 18-0 lead.
On the brink of half time, St Marys crossed through five-eighth Riley Stokes after grubber kicking for himself for an 18-6 halftime scoreline.
After a gruelling start to the second half filled with big hits and desperate defence, St Marys second rower Kye Eldridge scrolled over in the 58th minute for an 18-12 scoreline.
An acrobatic effort from Sea Eagles winger Lachlan Burt in the 66th minute halted the St Marys comeback. The winger had plenty to do after receiving a poor pass before leaping over his opposite number to put Manly up 22-12.
Jake Smith put the final nail in the coffin in the 73rd minute to burrow his way underneath the posts. Lachlan Burt converted from in front for a 28-12 lead.
St Marys scored a consolation converted try in the final minute through Riley Stokes for a 28-18 scoreline.
The Sea Eagles take on the Rams in round eight on Sunday, May 12, at 1pm at HE Laybutt Field, Blacktown.
Manly Leagues 28 (Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota 4', Joshua Buttenshaw 6', Remi Mant 13', Lachlan Burt 66', Jake Smith 72'. Goals: Lachlan Burt 4/5) def St Marys 18 (Tries: Riley Stokes 37', Kye Eldridge 58', Riley Stokes 79'. Goals: Kaleb Farr 3/3)
