Match Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 6 vs Dragons

The Sea Eagles fully deserved to break through for that elusive win in Round 6 after fighting back from a 22-10 half-time deficit to go down 28-26 at Collegians Sporting Complex.

The third placed Dragons opened the scoring when they moved the ball right for centre Clay Baldock to get on the outside of his opposite number to score for a 4-0 lead after four minutes.

The home side scored their second four minutes later when Saifiti Junior Saifiti dived over in the corner after Dragons five-eighth Eden Hodges leapt high to take a bomb to send his winger over for a 10-0 lead.

The Dragons crossed for their third when Jackson Cahill-Smith dived over off a pass from second-rower Connor Sadler for a 14-0 lead after 13 minutes.

It became 18-0 six minutes later when Sadler was rewarded with his own try.

Manly centre Benjamin Keene-O’Keefe continued his impressive form this season when he brushed off two defenders to score from a scrum play for an 18-6 scoreline after 26 minutes.

The Dragons crossed again through winger Kye Andrews for a 22-6 lead before Manly second-rower Kalani Peyroux-Donaldson ran off a lovely short ball from talented five-eighth Charlie Boyle to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 22-10 at half-time.

Manly got off to a perfect start to the second half when winger Mitchell Heather crossed after some fine play on the right for a 22-14 scoreline after 45 minutes.

The Dragons’ lead was reduced to two through a try to Christian Taula off a great short pass from livewire hooker Billy Thompson for a 22-20 scoreline after 53 minutes.

Twenty minutes later, the Sea Eagles took the lead for the first time when Keene-O'Keefe brushed past three defenders to score his second try for a 26-22 lead.

Just when it looked like the Sea Eagles would grab that first win, the Dragons crossed in the 78th minute through Lucas Borg after the full-back backed up a break down the left side to score near the posts for the 28-26 win.

Manly can certainly hold their heads high after a very gallant performance. If they can reproduce the same effort again, the first win is not far away.

The Sea Eagles now play the NZ Warriors in Auckland on Saturday, April 18.