Gallant Sea Eagles go down in Tarsha Gale Cup
A gutsy Manly Warringah Sea Eagles showed plenty of fighting spirit in their first ever Tarsha Gale Cup women's match at Brookvale Oval today.
Missing several players through injury, including damaging prop Tafao Asaua (ankle) and hooker Ellah Hughes (broken arm), the Sea Eagles adopted the 'next girl up' mentality to play some very entertaining rugby league in going down 28-20 to the Canberra Raiders.
The Sea Eagles have won one of their first three matches.
Prop Monica Fasavalu-Fa’amausili quickly became a fan favourite with some bone crunching tackles with the Sea Eagles defence again strong.
The Sea Eagles had the first attacking opportunity in the game when half-back Aaliyah Haumono made a break down the right edge only to be pulled down in a trysaving tackle by full-back Georgia Willey.
Manly then had another chance when centre Mesha Fretton offloaded to winger Sophia Addington who was pulled down near the line.
The home side finally got on the board when Haumono crashed her way over to score under the posts in the seventh minute. Five-eighth Cailan Mamea converted for a 6-0 lead.
The Raiders hit back four minutes later when full-back Georgia Willey stepped past the defence to score next to the posts for a 6-6 scoreline.
Manly was left a player short with 14 minutes remaining after Fasavalu-Fa’amausili was sin-binned for throwing a punch.
The Raiders capitalised a minute later when lock Kayla Fleming scored under the posts for a 12-6 lead.
Canberra then went to a 16-6 lead after sending the ball wide for Willey to score in the corner with five minutes remaining to half-time.
The Sea Eagles hit back with a superb individual try to powerful centre Taleenza Nelson a minute before the break. Mamea converted to leave Manly trailing 16-12 at half-time.
Manly drew level six minutes after half-time when winger Matilda Oliver dived over in the corner after the Sea Eagles caught a crossfield bomb from Haumono to spread the ball quickly to score. Mamea failed to convert the try from the sideline for a 16-all scoreline.
Canberra five-eighth Bonnie Brewer produced a classic show and go to slip through the Sea Eagles defence to score. The try was converted for a 22-16 lead with 14 minutes remaining.
Manly hit back three minutes with a fine try in the corner to centre Mesha Fretton. Hooker Alicia Weir failed to convert the tough kick from the sideline for a 22-20 scoreline.
Canberra stretched the lead to 28-20 when prop Beyonce Marela strolled through some tired defence to score next to the posts with six minutes remaining.
The Sea Eagles girls return to Brookvale Oval next Saturday, February 25, to play the Penrith Panthers at 11am.
