Match Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 22 v Roosterss

Heavy rain over the weekend saw the fixture move from 4 Pines Park on Saturday to a Tuesday night match at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence in Homebush.

The visitors shot out to a 16-point lead with three tries in the opening 30 minutes. Continuous errors in the second half proved to be the key factor as they failed to add any more points to the scoreboard.

Manly scored 18 unanswered points to claim their fifth victory of the season and a much needed two competition points, leap frogging the Rabbitohs into 12th place on the ladder.

The Roosters won an aerial contest deep in the Sea Eagles’ half to score the opening try through Julius Mitchell for a 6-0 lead after nine minutes. 

Tries to Kanaan Magele and William Malloy in the 25th and 27th minute saw the Roosters push their lead out to 16-0.

Manly hit back three minutes later in the set from the kick restart. A simple pass from the ruck was dropped by a Roosters’ player at their own 20-metre line, allowing Benjamin Keene O’Keefe to scoop the ball up and make it past five players to score for a 16-6 scoreline.

The Sea Eagles had ample opportunities to cut the deficit in the minutes before half-time, with a penalty and forced drop-out keeping the pressure on.

Unfortunately, the Roosters managed to hold on with some desperate defence as the siren sounded for half-time with 10 points separating the sides. 

Two errors in the space of a few minutes to the visitors saw Manly break through to score in the 52nd minute. Second-rower Jett Jackson scooped the ball up from the ground after his teammates forced it loose and ran 25 metres to score next to the posts for a 16-12 scoreline.

A crusher tackle by Roosters utility Josiah Fesolai in the 57th minute saw him sent to the sin-bin, handing the Sea Eagles an advantage for the latter stages of the match.

Poor discipline and errors continued to fill the Roosters’ game as Manly surged forward to score in the 62nd minute through Riley Pennell. 

An inch-perfect 40/20 by Callum Dowell set up possession for the side. A quick shift to the left edge moments later and good hold-up play to beat the defence saw Pennell dive in the corner to score for an 18-16 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

The Sea Eagles banded together to hold out continuous attacks in their half. The Roosters were unable to find an answer, being thrown over the sideline with their final attacking opportunity to confirm a two-point victory for the boys in maroon-and-white.

Manly’s round 23 Jersey Flegg Cup fixture kicks off at 11:45am against the Newcastle Knights, in the first of two matches, at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, August 9.