Sea Eagles go down to competition leaders
A commanding second half from the Sydney Roosters saw the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles lose 42-24 at 4 Pines Park today in round nine of the Jersey Flegg Cup.
The Sea Eagles fought back from an early 12 point deficit to trail 18-12 at half-time but the Roosters showed why they are competition leaders with a clinical performance.
With Blacktown Workers having a bye in the NSW Cup, the Sea Eagles were boosted by the return of exciting five-eighth Latu Fainu and talented hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong.
The Roosters received first use of the ball when Manly full-back Charlie Thompson was rag dolled over the sideline. The visitors capitalised on the early possession, crashing over in the corner through centre Tavita Henare-Schuster for a 4-0 scoreline after three minutes.
Thompson then was unlucky to concede a try to Roosters centre Kyron Fekitoa in the corner after he attempted to stop a 40-20 kick by tapping the ball back in play only for the visitors to score for an 8-0 lead.
The Roosters had their third try in the 13th minute through a silky flick pass that landed on the chest of Roosters winger Xavier Chatfield-Mooka, who dived over in the corner for a 12-0 lead.
Manly hit back in the 20th minute after hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong found his prop James Uesele with a crisp short ball that saw him dive over next to the posts untouched. Winger Cameron Brown converted to make the score 12-6.
Manly five-eighth Latu Fainu was then sin-binned for a professional foul in trying to stop a try 11 minutes out from half-time.
With a man short, the Sea Eagles did a sublime job to be the next team to score after hooker Daniel O'Donnell burrowed over from dummy half. Brown converted to make it 12-all.
On the stroke of half-time, the Roosters snatched the lead when forward Corey Ross outleaped Thompson to score a converted try for an 18-12 lead at the break.
The away team came out of the gates flying in the second half. Forward Cory Ross scored his second try off a kick in the 36th minute after he pounced on a grubber that looked like going dead. Cassius Tia converted from the sideline to give his side a 24-18 lead.
The Roosters were in again when Henare-Schuster scored off another attacking grubber for a 30-12 lead.
The visitors had their third try in 10 minutes through winger Isaac Guba for a comfortable 36-12 lead with 22 minutes remaining.
Henare-Schuster then grabbed his third try in the 55th minute for a 42-12 scoreline.
After having a try denied to second-rower Iverson Mapu-Satiu, the Sea Eagles were in again through Fainu under the posts two minutes later. Brown converted for a 42-18 scoreline.
Uesele then grabbed his second try next to the posts with three minutes to go. Brown converted for a 42-24 scoreline.
The Sea Eagles have a bye next weekend.
