Manly lose to Eels in a tough SG ball clash

A late first-half surge from the Parramatta Eels saw the Manly Sea Eagles go down 38-18 in the SG Ball Cup at Brookvale Oval on Saturday.

New Manly five-eighth Lehi Hopoate set up the first try with a crafty offload to fullback Josh Clark, who converted his own try to give the home side an early 6-0 lead.

An error off the kick-off awarded the Eels possession on Manly’s try line. The visitors capitalised through centre Patrick Spence who slammed the ball down in the corner making the score 6-4 after seven minutes.

Manly hit back quickly through centre Maxwell Taotua, who burrowed his way over from acting dummy half for a 10-4 lead after good lead up work from winger Teapo Stoltman.

Parramatta leveled the scores in the 20th minute when captain Charlie Guymer forced himself over the try line. Five-eighth Ethan Sanders converted next to the posts after 21 minutes.

Winger Mohamed Alameddine handed the Eels their first lead of the match when he utilised his pace to score in the corner. Sanders converted to give Parramatta a 16-10 lead after 23 minutes.

The away team stretched their lead out after Guymer scored his second in the 27th minute for a 22-10 lead.

Tempers flared when Parramatta’s prop Lance Fualema was placed on report for a dangerous tackle with the Eels taking a 22-10 lead into half-time.

Eels centre Devonte Vaivela scooped up a loose ball to score in the corner one minute after half-time for a 28-10 after a successful conversion in the 36th minute.

Hopoate showed his composure in the 43rd minute by forcing a goal-line drop-out with a well-placed grubber. Unfortunately, a forward pass disallowed centre Maxwell Taotua from scoring his second.

The Eels then scored off a kick in the 53rd minute through second rower Domenico De Stradis for a 34-10 lead.

A barnstorming run from centre Maxwell Taotua saw him pulled down inches from the try line before Konz snuck his way over from dummy half to leave Manly trailing 34-14 after 56 minutes.

With seven minutes remaining, Stoltman crossed after some great ball movement  after the home team to leave the Sea Eagles training 34-18 before the Eels secured victory when winger Tuvaka Palu scored in the dying stages for the 20 point win.

The Sea Eagles now take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 8 at Redfern Oval on Saturday, March 25, from 1:15 pm.