Match Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 17 vs Warriors

Manly looked down and out trailing 20-6 at half-time but managed to turn things around with three tries in seven minutes to start the second half.

The lead was short lived as the Warriors snatched the lead back eight minutes later, setting up a grandstand finish.

Both teams showed out in defence as the visitors held on to walk away with the two competition points. Manly remain on ten points, with four wins to their name so far this season.

The Warriors shot out to a quick 10-point lead thanks to tries by Alvin Chong Nee and Brandon Norris in the opening ten minutes.

A third try in the 22nd minute to Warriors’ half-back Jack Thompson extended their lead to 16-0.

Manly bounced back with a well-worked try four minutes later to Kurt Fisher. A grubber kick by Callum Dowell sat up perfectly before the deadball line for Fisher to ground the ball for a 16-6 scoreline.

The New Zealand side didn’t take long to re-gain control as Maui Winitana-Patelesio crossed for his side’s fourth try in the 30th minute, pushing their lead out to 20-6 at half-time.

Benjamin Taylor and Kurt Fisher combined to set up the Sea Eagles’ second try of the match, with the latter diving over in the corner to bag a double. Taylor got on the end of a cross-field kick by Charlie Boyle and quickly popped the ball behind him to Fisher, who scored in the corner to cut the deficit to 20-10 with 48 minutes played.

Manly carried on with their never say die attitude en route to their third four minutes later. A quick shift to the left edge and a final pass by full-back Riley Pennell sent Zachary Karam over in the corner untouched to bring Manly back within touching distance at 20-16.

The Sea Eagles hit the lead in sensational fashion with their third try in just seven minutes. After two kick regathers on the last tackle and a quick shuffle through the hands metres out from the line, prop Campbell Munn found himself diving over next to the posts to give his side a 22-20 lead with 20 minutes to play.

The Warriors scored their first try in more then half an hour through Paea Sikuvea in the 65th minute to take back the lead with a 26-22 scoreline.

Manly had a handful of chances to walk away with two competition points in the final 15 minutes but failed to capitalise, with the New Zealand side holding on with tiresome defence for a four-point victory.

The Sea Eagles host the St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 18 of the Jersey Flegg Cup. The match kicks off at 12pm on Sunday July 6 at 4 Pines Park.