Manly Warringah Sea Eagles recorded a 21-20 victory over St George-Illawarra Dragons today in round 14 of the NSWRL Jersey Flegg competition.
Sione Fainu and Zac Fulton made their Jersey Flegg debuts for Manly after being promoted from the from the SG Ball team that finished runners-up.
The Sea Eagles opened the scoring with a try to winger Simon Tito in the sixth minute for a 4-0 lead before opposite winger Sam McCann leapt high to defuse a bomb in the 19th minute to level the scores. Half-back Blair Grant converted for a 6-4 lead to the Dragons.
Manly regained the lead when Fainu – the younger brother of Manase – scored near the posts five minutes later. Centre Ben Trbojevic converted the try for a 10-6 lead.
The Dragons drew level in the 42nd minute through a try to five-eighth Jayden Sullivan. Grant converted for a 12-10 lead to the visitors.
St George-Illawarra went to a 16-10 lead when forward Bailey Dickinson scored next to the posts after the ball was tapped back infield from a bomb. Grant converted for an 18-10 lead with 19 minutes remaining.
The Sea Eagles hit back with a try to Trbojevic in the 55th minute to trail 18-14 before Grant landed a penalty goal from in front for a 20-14 lead three minutes later.
Manly half-back Jamie Lawler showed his strength and skills when he crashed over next to the posts to score. Fainu converted for a 20-all scoreline with three minutes remaining.
The Dragons then bombed a certain try a minute later when a pass inside went astray 20 metres from the Sea Eagles line.
Manly five-eighth Hyrum Wichmann then calmly landed a 20 metre field goal inside the final 20 seconds to give the Sea Eagles a 21-20 win and their second victory of the season.
