Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will be chasing their third straight win in the Jersey Flegg competition at Belmore Sportsground this Saturday.
The Sea Eagles recorded their first win of the season in round five in beating the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium before backing it up with a strong victory over the Sydney Roosters at Wyong last Saturday.
Manly lost their first five games of the season and currently sit in 11th place on the U20s ladder. Five of the seven matches have been played away from home.
Against Wyong, it was a case of overcoming a slow start to trail 12-10 at half-time before running in some impressive tries in the second half in a pleasing performance for Coach Wayne Lambkin.
"I think after the first 15 minutes against the Roosters, we dominated the rest of the game. I thought we controlled the game really well, especially when we got in front,'' Lambkin said.
"We did some good things there to maintain the pressure, and to take pressure off ourselves. We got through our sets and kicked into touch. We did all the little things right that you need to do when you are leading the game to frustrate the opposition."
Lambkin said the past fortnight had shown what the Sea Eagles are capable of in the U20s competition.
"We have turned the corner by playing more percentage footy,'' he said.
"Just being a little bit more balanced instead of being all over the place. We stuck to things that we planned for and it is encouraging that the boys are buying into what we are trying to do."
The Sea Eagles now tackle the Canterbury Bulldogs at Belmore before the competition stops for a two week break. The Bulldogs sit in fifth place with three wins from seven matches.
"We have to be very good in the middle this week. The Bulldogs are a big side and they are mobile,'' Lambkin said.
"They will come at you a million miles an hour. We just need to get an arm wrestle with them early on."
Round 8 Jersey Flegg
Saturday, April 28
Belmore Sportsground, 1.15pm
Sea Eagles season
Rd 1: lost to Newcastle 58-10, Cessnock Sportsground
Rd 2: lost to Parramatta 38-6, Lottoland
Rd 3: lost to Cronulla Sharks 18-16, HE Laybutt Field
Rd 4: lost to Mounties 28-12, Aubrey Keech Reserve
Rd 5: lost to Parramatta 22-14, New Era Stadium
Rd 6: beat NZ Warriors 26-6, Mt Smart Stadium
Rd 7: beat Sydney Roosters 34-10, Berkeley Vale Oval
