Manly Warringah Sea Eagles were defeated 40-14 by the St George Illawarra Dragons in Round 26 of the Knock On Effect NSW Cup at Lionel Watts Park on Saturday.
Match: Sea Eagles v Dragons
Round 26 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
14th Position
away Team
Dragons
11th Position
Venue: Lionel Watts Park, Sydney
Manly ran in three tries in the first half to trail by two points at the break. The game remained in the balance for much of the second half before the Dragons scored four late tries to secure a 40-14 victory.
The Dragons opened the scoring in the 15th minute when five-eighth Joseph O’Neill found back-rower Dylan Coutts with a short ball. Halfback Kade Reed converted to put the Dragons ahead 6-0.
Manly responded in the 22nd minute when back-rower Hugo Hart found centre Blake Wilson with an offload to score in the north-eastern corner. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving Manly trailing 6-4.
From the ensuing kick-off, Manly shifted the ball to the right edge where Hart finished the move to score. The conversion was unsuccessful, with Manly taking an 8-6 lead.
Manly extended their lead in the 29th minute when lock Zach Dockar-Clay burst through the line before finding second-rower Aaron Schoupp to score. Fullback Tex Hoy added the extras to take the score to 14-6.
Seven minutes later the Dragons responded when winger Saifiti Junior Saifiti finished off a shift to the right edge. The conversion was unsuccessful, with Manly holding a 14-10 lead.
The Dragons crossed again in the 36th minute when centre Setu Tu crashed over from five metres out. Reed added the extras as the Dragons took a 16-14 lead into the break.
The first points of the second half came in the 64th minute when Dragons centre Brad Morkos finished off an 80-metre break. Reed converted to extend the lead to 22-14.
The visitors capitalised on a Manly error before working their way downfield, with winger Tom Kirk finishing in the corner. Reed added the extras to extend the Dragons’ lead to 28-14 with seven minutes remaining.
The Dragons scored again three minutes later when prop Jacob Halangahu crashed over from close range. Reed converted to take the score to 34-14.
With two minutes remaining, back-rower Nick Tsougranis broke through the line to score the Dragons’ seventh try of the match. Reed continued kicking well adding the two points and closing out a 40-14 victory.
