Match Report: NSW Cup Round 18 vs Dragons

Manly went into the sheds at half-time with a 22-4 deficit and looked down and out after a lacklustre first half, with the only bright moment being a try in the 39th minute.

A quick start to the second half and some exciting football from the boys in Maroon-and-White showed that the Manly boys had it in them as they brought the score back within six points, only for the Dragons to crush their dreams with their final try with 18 minutes remaining to all but confirm victory.

Defeat leaves the Sea Eagles in 11th place on the ladder, with five wins from 17 matches played.

The Dragons shot out to a 22-point lead with four tries in the opening 35 minutes through Jonah Glover, Lyric Craft-Te Moananui, Jesse Williams and Haele Finau.

Manly hit back on the stroke of half-time to cut the deficit to 22-4 at the break. Forward Jacob Sykes chased hard on the kick and won possession in the air before flicking the ball out desperately to Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega. The winger threw a pass out to Semisi Kioa who beat one defender to score in the corner as the siren sounded for half-time.

The Sea Eagles started the second half in emphatic fashion with a second try to Kioa in the 48th minute. A shortside run and a perfectly placed grubber kick by half-back Joey Walsh made its way to the in-goal area where Kioa grounded the ball in the corner for a 22-10 scoreline.

Manly continued to build momentum with their third try in the 56th minute. After winning possession deep in the Dragons' half, the Sea Eagles continued to attack the line with a handful of chances going astray. A simple pass from the ruck by Zaidas Muagututia metres out from the line saw Caleb Navale break through the defence to score under the posts and bring the score to 22-16.

The Dragons regained control with their fifth try of the match in the 64th minute to extend their lead. A kick on the last tackle by Lachlan Ilias landed in the hands of Charles Heidke who spun out of a tackle to score next to the posts for a 28-16 scoreline.

A poor kick restart by Manly and another conceded penalty at their own ten-metre line gifted the Dragons an opportunity at two points, which they took to push their lead to 30-16 with 11 minutes remaining.

Dragons' lock Jacob Webster was sent to the sin-bin in the 76th minute, leaving the visitors a man down for the remaining minutes.

The Sea Eagles looked to have scored two minutes later in the left corner as Tuaimalo Vaega made his way down the sideline to cross over in the corner. Unfortunately, the play was called up for a forward pass in the build-up. 

Manly grabbed a consolation try in the 78th minute through Clayton Faulalo. A smart offload at the halfway line and a big break in play by Walsh propelled the side downfield. The young half-back timed his pass and sent the ball infield to Faulalo, who beat one chasing defender to score under the posts for a final scoreline of 30-22.

The Sea Eagles turned it on but unfortunately left it too little, too late. A smart chip over the defence by Brandon Wakeham down the left edge bounced perfectly for Tuaimalo Vaega who chipped it again immediately.

Navale regathered and quickly popped the ball to Gordon Chan Kum Tong, who tucked his ears back before offloading to Faulalo metres out from the line. The full-back tried his best but was chopped down on the tryline and held up as the siren sounded for full-time, confirming an eight-point defeat for the home side.

Manly head to Henson Park to take on the Newtown Jets in round 19 of the NSW Cup. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday July 12.