Match Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 5 vs Silktails

In a match played on a very heavy field at the Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen, both sides were searching for their first wins of the season.

The Silktails handled the wet conditions a little better to score six tries to four in an enthralling contest with giant five-eighth Ratu Kikau scoring a hat-trick for the Fijians.

Trailing 6-0 after Kikau’s first try, the Sea Eagles drew level at 6-all through a try to lock Simon Green under the posts after 10 minutes.

Manly went to a 12-6 lead three minutes later when hooker Billy Thompson split the defence from dummy half to find Green who sent full-back Aymn Hamilton over next to the posts.

Some slick hands in the wet saw Silktails centre Maikeli Sadranu dive over in the corner to make it 12-all after 18 minutes.

The Silktails took a 16-12 lead after Kikau scored his second following a drop ball by winger Jayden Innes off a towering kick.

Talented Manly five-eighth Charlie Boyle continued his good form when he scored off his own kick following a Silktails fumble for an 18-16 lead after 34 minutes.

Kikau then used his physical strength and size to finish off a left-hand raid to score his third try for a 20-18 lead after 45 minutes.

Some entertaining play from the Silktails saw them throw the ball wide for centre Iowani Mainalovo to slide over for a 24-18 lead after 55 minutes.

After winger Thomas Klem was tackled short of the line, the Sea Eagles went down the left again with in-form centre Benjamin Keene-O’Keefe breaking the line to send Boyle over for his second to make it 24-all after 68 minutes.

A grubber kick by Sadranu then saw Silktails second-rower Sailosi Molikula beat Manly prop Lewis Saad to the ball to score in the 78th minute to make it 28-24.

The Sea Eagles were denied a try to Innes in the dying seconds after he was taken into touch in attempting to score.

Manly now play the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday, April 11, at 11am at the Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong.