Manly outlast determined Warriors
June 22nd 2008 03:54
The Manly Sea-Eagles have stayed at the top of the premiership table thanks to a scrappy 20-14 victory over the New Zealand Warriors at a sodden Mt Smart Stadium this afternoon.
Manly’s four tries to three victory wasn’t secured until prop Brent Kite crashed over in the 76th minute, with both sides poor ball control sure to be addressed by both coaches during the week.
After a tight opening 15 minutes, it was a barnstorming run from Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei that brought about the opening points, the monster Kiwi winger palming off David Williams and Brett Stewart on a damaging sixty metre charge before dotting down in the corner in his return match.
Also appearing in his first game after a lengthy injury spell, New Zealand pivot Michael Witt converted superbly from the sideline to hand the home side a 6-0 advantage.
The Sea-Eagles replied just three minutes later however thanks to some fancy footwork from fullback Brett Stewart, with the Origin custodian mesmerising three Warriors defenders in an angled cross field charge to get the visitor’s back to 6-4 in the 18th minute.
Running with the aid of a strong breeze, the Sea-Eagles were cruelly denied two further try scoring decisions by video referee Graeme West, allowing the Warriors to take a slight 6-4 lead into the main break.
An energetic start to the second half from Manly allowed them to snatch the lead in the 45th minute, with backrower Glenn Stewart steaming onto a neat Heath L’Estrange offload to barrel his way over beside the posts, with Matt Orford’s conversion pushing the visitor’s out to a 10-6 lead.
In what was warming into an entertaining encounter, the Warriors drew level thanks to a piece of good fortune, with an Ian Henderson grubber kick rebounding off Manly’s Steve Menzies, allowing Simon Mannering to bounce over.
The Warriors chances of recording an upset grew greater when winger Aidan Kirk leapt high over his opposite Williams to dot down, with Witt again missing from the sideline leaving the Warriors clinging to a slender 14-10 advantage heading inside the final 15 minutes.
But in a see-sawing match, Manly hooker Matt Ballin snatched back the lead with a simple dummy-half barge over try close to the posts, with Orford’s conversion from close range handing the Sea-Eagles a 16-14 advantage inside the final eight minutes.
And it was the Warriors ill-discipline that eventually cost them the game, with Manly front-rower Brent Kite wrapping up the match with a late four-pointer.
Manly Sea-Eagles 20
Tries: Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite
Goals: Matt Orford 2
defeated
New Zealand Warriors 14
Tries: Manu Vatuvei, Simon Mannering, Aidan Kirk
Goals: Michael Witt
At Mt Smart Stadium
Referee – Tony De Las Heras
In today’s other games, the Sydney Roosters have survived a late Newcastle Knights charge to secure a thrilling 16-14 victory over the Novacastrians at a rowdy EnergyAustralia Stadium today.
After trailing 6-8 at half-time, the visitor’s smart use of the strong second half breeze allowed winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall to cross for two tries to keep an equal share of the competition lead.
Sydney Roosters 16
Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall 2, David Shillington
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2
defeated
Newcastle Knights 14
Tries: Cory Paterson, Danny Buderus
Goals: Kurt Gidley 3
At Energy Australia Stadium
And at Toyota Park, a Luke Covell penalty goal after the full time siren has seen the Cronulla Sharks record a heart-stopping 16-14 victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Cronulla Sharks 16
Tries: Isaac De Gois, Luke Douglas
Goals: Luke Covell 4
defeated
Parramatta Eels 14
Tries: Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams
Goals: Luke Burt 3
At Toyota Stadium
Manly’s four tries to three victory wasn’t secured until prop Brent Kite crashed over in the 76th minute, with both sides poor ball control sure to be addressed by both coaches during the week.
After a tight opening 15 minutes, it was a barnstorming run from Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei that brought about the opening points, the monster Kiwi winger palming off David Williams and Brett Stewart on a damaging sixty metre charge before dotting down in the corner in his return match.
Also appearing in his first game after a lengthy injury spell, New Zealand pivot Michael Witt converted superbly from the sideline to hand the home side a 6-0 advantage.
The Sea-Eagles replied just three minutes later however thanks to some fancy footwork from fullback Brett Stewart, with the Origin custodian mesmerising three Warriors defenders in an angled cross field charge to get the visitor’s back to 6-4 in the 18th minute.
Running with the aid of a strong breeze, the Sea-Eagles were cruelly denied two further try scoring decisions by video referee Graeme West, allowing the Warriors to take a slight 6-4 lead into the main break.
An energetic start to the second half from Manly allowed them to snatch the lead in the 45th minute, with backrower Glenn Stewart steaming onto a neat Heath L’Estrange offload to barrel his way over beside the posts, with Matt Orford’s conversion pushing the visitor’s out to a 10-6 lead.
In what was warming into an entertaining encounter, the Warriors drew level thanks to a piece of good fortune, with an Ian Henderson grubber kick rebounding off Manly’s Steve Menzies, allowing Simon Mannering to bounce over.
The Warriors chances of recording an upset grew greater when winger Aidan Kirk leapt high over his opposite Williams to dot down, with Witt again missing from the sideline leaving the Warriors clinging to a slender 14-10 advantage heading inside the final 15 minutes.
But in a see-sawing match, Manly hooker Matt Ballin snatched back the lead with a simple dummy-half barge over try close to the posts, with Orford’s conversion from close range handing the Sea-Eagles a 16-14 advantage inside the final eight minutes.
And it was the Warriors ill-discipline that eventually cost them the game, with Manly front-rower Brent Kite wrapping up the match with a late four-pointer.
Manly Sea-Eagles 20
Tries: Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite
Goals: Matt Orford 2
defeated
New Zealand Warriors 14
Tries: Manu Vatuvei, Simon Mannering, Aidan Kirk
Goals: Michael Witt
At Mt Smart Stadium
Referee – Tony De Las Heras
In today’s other games, the Sydney Roosters have survived a late Newcastle Knights charge to secure a thrilling 16-14 victory over the Novacastrians at a rowdy EnergyAustralia Stadium today.
After trailing 6-8 at half-time, the visitor’s smart use of the strong second half breeze allowed winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall to cross for two tries to keep an equal share of the competition lead.
Sydney Roosters 16
Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall 2, David Shillington
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2
defeated
Newcastle Knights 14
Tries: Cory Paterson, Danny Buderus
Goals: Kurt Gidley 3
At Energy Australia Stadium
And at Toyota Park, a Luke Covell penalty goal after the full time siren has seen the Cronulla Sharks record a heart-stopping 16-14 victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Cronulla Sharks 16
Tries: Isaac De Gois, Luke Douglas
Goals: Luke Covell 4
defeated
Parramatta Eels 14
Tries: Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams
Goals: Luke Burt 3
At Toyota Stadium
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