Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 24-16 loss to the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium tonight in round 21 of the Telstra Premiership.
In a match played on a heavy surface with constant rain falling, the Sea Eagles went into the match in fifth place against the 12th placed Warriors on the back of six wins from their last seven games.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the sixth minute when winger Ken Maumalo did well to maintain his balance to avoid the touchline to plant the ball down from a kick from five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita for a 4-0 lead. The try was not converted.
The Sea Eagles then enjoyed some possession inside the Warriors quarter through repeat sets but were unable to break through.
Manly had a possible tryscoring opportunity to winger Jorge Taufua go begging in the 18th minute when he fumbled the ball into touch from a pass from full-back Tom Trbojevic.
The Warriors went to an 8-0 lead when forward Ligo Sao caught a ball between the legs pass from full-back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to score next to the posts after the full-back toed the ball through from a fumble by Addin Fonua-Blake from a Blake Green inside kick. Harris-Tavita converted for a 10-0 lead after 23 minutes.
A minute later, Maumalo scored his second try when he beat the tackle of Tom Trbojevic to plant the ball down in the left corner for a 14-0 lead. Harris-Tavita converted from the sideline for a 16-0 lead after 27 minutes.
Harris-Tavita landed a penalty goal from in front of the posts in the 39th minute for an 18-0 lead after Manly was caught offside from a Green grubber kick.
Half-time Warriors 18 Sea Eagles 0
Manly was denied a try in the 67th minute to Daly Cherry-Evans after he missed grounding a grubber kick through near the posts with the Warriors losing second-rower Adam Blair to the sin-bin for obstructing Manase Fainu.
A minute later, Manly got on the board when second-rower Joel Thompson ran through two defenders to score from a short pass. Reuben Garrick failed to convert the try from out wide for an 18-4 scoreline.
Garrick then dived over for Manly's second try four in the 72nd minute after good work by Tom Trbojevic and Moses Suli. Garrick converted his own try from the sidelines for an 18-10 scoreline with seven minutes remaining.
A minute later, Garrick planted the ball down for his second try before converting it from the sideline for an 18-16 scoreline with five minutes remaining.
The Warriors then ended Manly's hopes of a late victory when hooker Jazz Tevaga crashed through Api Koroisau and Tom Trbojevic to score from dummy half next to the posts. Harris-Tavita converted for a 24-16 lead with a minute remaining.
The Sea Eagles now play the Wests Tigers at Lottoland on Thursday, August 15, at 7.50pm.
