The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have come off second best against the Manly Sea Eagles in an intense battle at Parramatta Stadium, with the full time score sitting at 52-22. The beginning of the Back to Cumberland celebration was welcomed by a beautiful winter afternoon for the Holden Cup players.
The Eels defence lapsed in the 7th minute with a try scored by Manly hooker Michael Stig. A successful conversion by Regan Haika left Manly with an early lead of 6-0.
Manly continued to tease the Eels, nearing close to the try line in the 13th minute as the smooth back rower Dylan Kelly crossed over the line. The try was successfully converted by Haika, leaving the score at 12-0.
Fabian Goodall of the Sea Eagles was next to score a try in the 20th minute, in which Haika was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The Sea Eagles continued to control the first half with Charlie Taylor scoring a try in the 23rd minute of the match. Successful conversion by Haika left the score at 22-0 in the 24th minute
Parramatta had their first real chance to score in the first half as they neared the try line, which was unfortunately intercepted by Fabian Goodall. Goodall proceeded to score a magnificent try after break away 85 metre sprint down the field. Haika was unsuccessful with the conversion, as the score sat at 26-0 in the 27th minute of the first half.
This only fuelled Ryan Mattersons fire as he managed to score Parramattas first try of the match in the 30th minute of the first half. Mitchell Brasington converted the try for the Blue and Gold, raising the score to 26-6 to Manly.
Matterson seemed to have started a trend, with John Folau following to score the Eels second try of the match. Brassington converted successfully with leaving the score at 26-12 with four minutes remaining in the first half.
The Blue and Gold returned to the field in the second half determined to show supporters they were not ready to give up without a fight. Manly began to make an advance towards the try line; however the ball was quickly intercepted by Parramatta.
Shortly after that, the first first try of the second half was taken by Eels dynamite Connor Broadhurst. Brassingtons kick fell just short of the conversion, with tensions rising as the score rested at 26-16.
Sea Eagle Jack Delaney was next to cross the try line in the 51st minute of the match. Haika failed to convert, leaving the score at 30-16 with 28 minutes remaining.
Gutherson locked in his first try of the match in the 58th minute for Manly, as Haika was unsuccessful the score remained at 34-16 to the Sea Eagles. Matt Ikuvalu charged over the Manly try line, as Haika managed to covert the try raising the score to 40-16 to Manly with 15 minutes remaining of the match.
Guntherson continued to dominate the second half, scoring his second try of the match, which was successfully converted by Haika, resting the score at 46-16 with 10 minutes remaining in the second half.
The Sea Eagles charged through in the final seven minutes of the match, with a try scored by Tuigamala and converted by Haika leaving the score at 52-16 to Manly.
Sean Jackson refused to leave the score with that large a gap, scoring a try in the final two minutes of the match. Converted by Brasington, the final score of the match rested at 52-22 to the Manly Sea Eagles.
MANLY (Guntherson 2, Goodall 2, Stig, Kelly, Delaney, Lukvalu, Taylor, Tuigamala tries; Haika 6 goals)
def.
EELS (Matterson, Folau, Broadhurst, Jackson; Brasington 3 goals)
The Eels defence lapsed in the 7th minute with a try scored by Manly hooker Michael Stig. A successful conversion by Regan Haika left Manly with an early lead of 6-0.
Manly continued to tease the Eels, nearing close to the try line in the 13th minute as the smooth back rower Dylan Kelly crossed over the line. The try was successfully converted by Haika, leaving the score at 12-0.
Fabian Goodall of the Sea Eagles was next to score a try in the 20th minute, in which Haika was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The Sea Eagles continued to control the first half with Charlie Taylor scoring a try in the 23rd minute of the match. Successful conversion by Haika left the score at 22-0 in the 24th minute
Parramatta had their first real chance to score in the first half as they neared the try line, which was unfortunately intercepted by Fabian Goodall. Goodall proceeded to score a magnificent try after break away 85 metre sprint down the field. Haika was unsuccessful with the conversion, as the score sat at 26-0 in the 27th minute of the first half.
This only fuelled Ryan Mattersons fire as he managed to score Parramattas first try of the match in the 30th minute of the first half. Mitchell Brasington converted the try for the Blue and Gold, raising the score to 26-6 to Manly.
Matterson seemed to have started a trend, with John Folau following to score the Eels second try of the match. Brassington converted successfully with leaving the score at 26-12 with four minutes remaining in the first half.
The Blue and Gold returned to the field in the second half determined to show supporters they were not ready to give up without a fight. Manly began to make an advance towards the try line; however the ball was quickly intercepted by Parramatta.
Shortly after that, the first first try of the second half was taken by Eels dynamite Connor Broadhurst. Brassingtons kick fell just short of the conversion, with tensions rising as the score rested at 26-16.
Sea Eagle Jack Delaney was next to cross the try line in the 51st minute of the match. Haika failed to convert, leaving the score at 30-16 with 28 minutes remaining.
Gutherson locked in his first try of the match in the 58th minute for Manly, as Haika was unsuccessful the score remained at 34-16 to the Sea Eagles. Matt Ikuvalu charged over the Manly try line, as Haika managed to covert the try raising the score to 40-16 to Manly with 15 minutes remaining of the match.
Guntherson continued to dominate the second half, scoring his second try of the match, which was successfully converted by Haika, resting the score at 46-16 with 10 minutes remaining in the second half.
The Sea Eagles charged through in the final seven minutes of the match, with a try scored by Tuigamala and converted by Haika leaving the score at 52-16 to Manly.
Sean Jackson refused to leave the score with that large a gap, scoring a try in the final two minutes of the match. Converted by Brasington, the final score of the match rested at 52-22 to the Manly Sea Eagles.
MANLY (Guntherson 2, Goodall 2, Stig, Kelly, Delaney, Lukvalu, Taylor, Tuigamala tries; Haika 6 goals)
def.
EELS (Matterson, Folau, Broadhurst, Jackson; Brasington 3 goals)
