Last-gasp Cherry-Evans Field Goal stops Knights crusade

In this week’s Against The Odds series, we reflect on a phenomenal comeback victory against the Newcastle Knights at Brookvale.

The two clubs will again clash this Saturday afternoon in what is set to be another great battle at 4 Pines Park.

Round 10, 2014

It was the night that Daly Cherry-Evans kicked a stunning field-goal with just three second remaining on the clock to steal a 15-14 victory from the Knights.

Newcastle winger Akuila Uate scored down the blindside in the 14th minute, scooping the ball out of dummy-half and wrestling past two defenders to ground the ball. Knights hooker Kurt Gidley converted to give the away side a 6-0 lead heading into half-time.

Uate took his chances and pounced on an error from Taufua before wrestling away from a tackle and grounding the ball for his second try in the 52nd minute to leave the Sea Eagles trailing by 10.

Manly were staring down a defeat and needed an answer, which came in the form of Taufua. The winger made up for his previous mistake four minutes earlier, forcing his way over in the corner for a 10-4 scoreline.

Dane Gagai scored for the Knights in the 62nd minute after forcing a one-on-one strip to win back possession for a 14-4 lead before Taufua scored his second try six minutes later to propel his side back into the match.

Skillful Manly lock Jamie Buhrer scored four minutes later with centre Steve Matai converting to level the scores with eight minutes remaining in the match.

Manly five-eighth Jack Littlejohn missed a field goal attempt in the 77th minute followed by an unsuccessful attempt from Knights fullback Darius Boyd a set later.

The stage was set for the Sea Eagles with a minute to play.

With the seconds counting down, Cherry-Evans slotted the field-goal from 36 metres out to give Manly a thrilling one-point win.

Sea Eagles 15 (Jorge Taufua 2, Jamie Buhrer tries, Matai 1/3 goals, Daly Cherry-Evans field goal) d Knights 14 (Akuila Uate 2, Dane Gagai tries, Kurt Gidley 1/2, Tyrone Roberts 0/1 goals), Brookvale Oval. Half-Time: Knights 6-0. Referees: Matt Cecchin, Adam Devcich. May 19, 2014.

Manly team

1 Brett Stewart, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Steve Matai, 5 David Williams, 6 Jack Littlejohn, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans, 8 Josh Starling, 9 Matt Ballin, 10 Brenton Lawrence, 11 Anthony Watmough, 12 Justin Horo, 13 Jamie Buhrer; bench: 15 Dunamis Lui, 16 Jesse Sene-Lefao, 17 Jason King, 18 Tom Symonds. Coach: Geoff Toovey

Knights team

1 Darius Boyd, 5 Akuila Uate, 2 James McManus, 3 Dane Gagai, 20 Jake Mamo, 6 Jarrod Mullen, 7 Tyrone Roberts, 8 David Fa’alogo, 9 Kurt Gidley, 10 Kade Snowden, 12 Robbie Rochow, 18 Korbin Sims, 13 Adam Cuthbertson; bench: 14 Adam Clydsdale, 15 Chris Houston, 17 Willie Mason, 19 Joseph Tapine. Coach: Wayne Bennett.