Junior Reps: Round 8 Wrap

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have moved into second position on the SG Ball Cup following a strong 30-12 victory at Narrabeen.

The Sea Eagles got off to a perfect start when prop Matthew Payne broke a tackle to send half-back Beau Alexander over for a 6-0 lead after two minutes.

It quickly became 12-0 when winger Oscar Crotty strolled over after the Dragons spilt a towering bomb from five-eighth Onitoni Large three minutes later.

A crisp pass from Large saw him put strong running second-rower Beau McKee through a gap for an 18-0 lead after 12 minutes.

Four minutes later, Manly centre Henry Troy was all set for the tryline after taking an intercept pass only to be pulled down in a covering tackle from five-eighth Zack Woodger.

It mattered little as the Large brothers combined after hooker Ashton took off from dummy half to find Onitoni in support to send Crotty on his way for his second try for a 24-0 lead after 18 minutes.

The Dragons caught the Sea Eagles short on their right side to send winger Cornelius Pupualii over for a 26-6 scoreline after 28 minutes.

An inside ball saw lock Lukas Butler crash over next to the posts for a 30-6 lead to Manly after 31 minutes.

The Dragons reduced the margin to 18 after centre Tyrone Moeroa toed the ball through from a spilt kick to score to make it 30-12.

Pupualii grabbed his second when he chipped kicked for himself on the last to cross out wide for the 30-18 scoreline.

It was Manly’s sixth win from seven games under first season coach Lachlan Croker. The win moves the Sea Eagles from sixth position to second with one round remaining.

Manly now play the Central Coast Roosters on Sunday, April 5, at 11.30am at the Central Coast Regional Sporting & Recreation Complex, Tuggerah.

Harold Matthews Cup

A spirited second half performance saw Manly keep their finals hopes alive with a tough 24-6 win over St George at Narrabeen.

The Sea Eagles went into the game just outside the top eight in ninth position against the 11th placed Dragons.

Manly built on a 12-6 lead at half-time to finish strongly in a four tries to one victory.

A smart grubber kick from Manly half-back William Tartonne saw winger Zac Gedz dive on the ball to score for a 6-0 lead after eight minutes.

The Dragons responded with a spectacular try in the 17th minute after five-eighth Rokko Walker pounced on a grubber kick just before the dead ball line to make it 6-all.

Manly took a 12-6 lead after 28 minutes when full-back Cooper Eveleigh stepped and weaved his way past the defence to score near the posts.

The Sea Eagles extended their lead to 18-6 in the 50th minute after second-rower Jayden Richards scored off a well-placed grubber kick from Tartonne.

Manly prop Billy Miller then produced a superb solo effort when he swooped on a drop ball on the Sea Eagles’ 20 metre line.

The big front-rower raced down the right sideline to push off defenders to score in the corner to give Manly a 24-6 lead.

Manly now play the Central Coast Roosters on Sunday, April 5, at 10am at the Central Coast Regional Sporting & Recreation Complex, Tuggerah.

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Sea Eagles suffered a 32-10 loss to St George Dragons in Round 8 of the Tarsha Gale Cup at Narrabeen.

After conceding three early tries, Manly got on the board through a great backline play that saw winger Katie Andrews dive over in the right corner after 20 minutes for a 14-4 scoreline.

The Dragons were in again shortly after to take an 18-4 lead into the break.

The second half saw St George dominate to race in three more tries before Manly crossed again near full-time through second-rower Serenity Mila.

It was the Dragons’ first win. The loss leaves the winless Sea Eagles on the bottom of the ladder.

The Sea Eagles play their final match against South Sydney at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen, on Saturday, April 4, at 11.30am.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

A gutsy Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 22-6 loss to St George Dragons in Round 8 of the Lisa Fiaola Cup at Narrabeen.

Both sides were desperate for their first win of the season with the Dragons having a 44 point better differential record than Manly.

The Sea Eagles produced a much brighter first half and muscled up well in defence to only trail 6-0 at the break.

The Dragons looked set to score in the second minute after a break from full-back Tayla Peters saw her find support before Manly prop Leyton Nonoa shut the play down with a heavy tackle.

Manly almost crossed themselves two minutes later after full-back Juliana Oldfield split the defence to be pulled down short of the line in promising signs for the Sea Eagles.

Some heavy defensive pressure on their line took its toll on Manly in the 15th minute when Dragons lock Maude Havea pushed past some tired players for a 6-0 lead.

The Dragons extended their lead immediately after half-time with a try to centre Lynetah Ioramo before Havea got on the outside of the defence to score her second for a 16-0 lead after 47 minutes.

Oldfield then scored the try of the game when she produced a classic chip and chase to regather before producing a spectacular swan dive under the posts for a 16-6 scoreline after 52 minutes.

The Dragons secured victory when hooker Monique Marshall sliced through the defence to score on full-time for the 22-6 win.

The loss leaves the Sea Eagles on the bottom of the ladder.

The Sea Eagles play their final match against South Sydney at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen, on Saturday, April 4, at 10am.