Match Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 16 vs Rabbitohs

The Sea Eagles were fortunate not to concede more and unfortunate not to put more points on the board themselves, with a handful of attacking sets in the Rabbitohs’ territory in the first half going awry.

Manly were unable to come back from an 18-point deficit at the break and were only able to muster up one try in the second half, despite another handful of chances. South Sydney’s goal line defence proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Rabbitohs’ five-eighth Taj Alvarez opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a 40-metre breakaway try for an early 6-0 lead.

The home side extended their lead with a second try in the 23rd minute through Tavis Felsch for a 12-0 scoreline.

South Sydney scored their third minutes before half-time through Riley Frame for an 18-0 lead at the break.

The Sea Eagles had a chance to strike whilst the siren sounded and Benjamin Taylor looked to go over untouched in the corner, only for the referee to call the play back for a penalty, leaving the boys in maroon-and-white down by 18.

Manly hooker Zaidas Muagututia timed his run to intercept a pass at his own tryline and streaked downfield, only to be taken over the sideline before a wayward pass hit the ground, turning the ball over metres out from the tryline in the 52nd minute.

The Sea Eagles scored their only try of the match three minutes later through second-rower Kurt Fisher. A smart off-load and a quick shift to the left edge freed up enough space for Fisher to force his way over in the corner for an 18-4 deficit.

Despite the scoreline, Manly continued to show up with hopes of putting more points on the board. Callum Dowell took on the line himself with a crafty grubber kick through the defence. The half-back regained the ball and combined with Charlie Boyle to win a penalty ten metres out from the line with minutes to play.

Taj Alvarez scored another try for South Sydney on the stroke of full-time for a final score of 24-4.

The Sea Eagles host the New Zealand Warriors in round 17 of the Jersey Flegg Cup at 4 Pines Park on Saturday June 28, 1:15pm.