Junior Reps: Round 6 Wrap

Two tries to lanky five-eighth Samuel Clarke-Moar saw the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles record a vital 32-18 victory over the Western Suburbs Magpies at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday.

Following two straight losses, the Sea Eagles recorded their third win to stay in touch with the top eight with three rounds remaining before the finals.

After soaking up some early goal line pressure, the Sea Eagles split Wests through the middle with two converted tries in five minutes to centre Harry Smythe and Clarke-Moar next to the posts for a 12-0 lead.

A penalty goal in front of the posts saw Manly stretch their lead to 14-0 at half-time.

Manly conceded two early tries in the second half, including one from a penalty tap, to leave them with a 14-12 lead after 38 minutes.

However, the Sea Eagles stopped the momentum after prop Billy Miller dived over from a short pass before Clarke-Moar grabbed his second out wide for a 26-12 lead after 54 minutes.

The Magpies reduced the score to 26-18 two minutes from full-time before Manly half-back Riley Carter stepped his way over just before the siren. Carter capped off a fine game with five goals.

The Sea Eagles return to 4 Pines Park next Saturday to play the Balmain Tigers at 10.30am.

SG Ball Cup

Talented Manly Warringah Sea Eagles half-back Beau Alexander was at his scheming best in the 44-26 win over the Western Suburbs Magpies in the SG Ball Cup.

Alexander, the son of Penrith great Greg Alexander, was in the thick of things, setting up three of Manly’s eight tries to give the Sea Eagles their fourth win under new coach Lachlan Croker.

A freakish, acrobatic catch by second-rower Sifa Oldfield on the left edge from an Alexander pass saw the Sea Eagles open the scoring for a 6-0 lead.

Manly could have jumped to a 10-0 lead in the 19th minute after a surging run from Andes Johansson only for the centre to drop the ball short of the line.

After conceding a try to Wests full-back Aaron Paea in the corner, Manly winger Oscar Crotty scored next to the posts to stretch the lead to 12-4 after 32 minutes.

Alexander set up his second try with a break down the middle for Tamoko Berryman-Duff to dive over untouched for a 14-point lead.

Manly started the second half poorly, conceding a try to Wests second-rower Peter Taai two minutes after the break for an 18-8 scoreline.

A knock-on from Wests from the restart saw Manly winger Henry Troy  cross in the corner for a 24-8 lead.

Wests centre Boston Lauvao then crossed before Henry finished off a fine break by full-back Cooper Elkins to score his second to give Manly a 28-12 lead after 52 minutes.

Two minutes later, Wests five-eighth Jhevon Lele sliced through some flimsy defence to leave the home side trailing 28-20.

After surviving a forward pass call on a Wests try, Manly capitalised when an Alexander chip kick on the last was spilt by the Magpies for Berryman-Duff to score his second for a 36-20 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

A minute later, Manly centre Max Davies crashed his way over in the corner for a 38-20 lead.

Wests second-rower Pheonix Godinet then scored a late consolation try before Manly five-eighth Onitoni Large stepped his way to score next to the posts for the 44-26 win.

Crotty finished the game with 16 points through a try and six goals.

The Sea Eagles play Balmain Tigers at 4 Pines Park next Saturday from 12pm.

Games yet to be played.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

Tarsha Gale Cup