Match Report: NSW Cup Round 19 vs Jets

The sides went blow for blow in the opening 40 scoring two tries apiece, with a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time handing the home side a two-point lead.

Manly slumped in the opening stages of the second half to concede two tries, with all to play for in the final 15 minutes.

The Sea Eagles secured two late tries in the final few minutes but it was too far gone, falling just short of a comeback.

The Jets opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a try to Daniel Atkinson for a 6-0 lead.

After countless sets in Newtown’s territory, Manly finally broke through to level the scores in the 15th minute. Caleb Navale burrowed his way under the defence with a strong run to score next to the posts for a 6-all scoreline.

Newtown held their own in defence and quickly turned it into attack, striking down the left edge through Michael Gabrael as they regained a 12-6 lead.

The teams traded tries as Manly bagged their second of the match, with Clayton Faulalo going over to score his 50th NSW Cup try for the club. A strong run down the left edge by Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega saw him bump off three players before passing infield to Faulalo, who raced away to score under the posts in the 25th minute for a 12-all scoreline.

A penalty on the stroke of half-time saw the Jets convert a penalty goal from 48 metres out for a 14-12 lead at the break.

Strong defence in the opening ten minutes of the second half saw chances go astray for both sides, with goal line defence proving to be the key.

Newtown capitalised on Manly’s misfortunes to score their third in the 58th minute through Taj Ford, pushing by their lead out to 20-12.

Continued pressure and several sets deep in Sea Eagles’ territory saw the home side break through six minutes later through Kyle Pickering, extending the score to 26-12.

Two late tries to Manly in the final few minutes closed the gap, but it was too little, too late.

Utility Zaidas Muagututia broke through the defence from 25 metres out with a dummy pass to score next to the posts in the 79th minute.

The side surged downfield and found themselves in front of the line again. Faulalo regathered a deflected grubber kick inside the ten-metre line and crashed over to score next to the posts, with the siren sounding shortly after the conversion for a final scoreline of 26-24.

The Sea Eagles travel to Belmore Sports Ground in round 20 of the NSW Cup to take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. The match kicks off at 1:15pm on Saturday July 19 after the Jersey Flegg Cup fixture.