A disappointing error rate saw Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffer a 26-16 loss to the Parramatta Eels at 4 Pines Park today in round eight of the NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup.
An unfortunate amount of unforced errors and penalties put the Sea Eagles on the back foot with the Eels jumping out to a 22-0 lead at half-time.
The Sea Eagles, chasing their fourth win of the season showed plenty of fightback in the second half, scoring three late second half tries to cut Parramatta's lead to 10.
This would be as close as Manly would get with the Eels claiming their first win of the season.
Parramatta opened the scoring in the sixth minute through winger Mohamed Alameddine after centre Domenico De Stradis picked up a loose ball for a 4-0 lead.
A series of mistakes saw Parramatta score back-to-back tries through halfback Joshua Lynn and five-eighth Te Hurinui Twidle for a 16-0 lead.
Parramatta went to a 22-0 lead at halftime after centre Anitoch Faitala-Mariner scooped up a knock on from Manly full-back Oliver Lawry off a bomb.
The Eels extended their lead through a try out wide to centre Domenico De Stradis in the 42nd minute to make it 26-0.
Manly would score their first try in the 51st minute through Fijian international Calab Navale who picked up a smart chip kick by halfback Tylor Bunting to score untouched underneath the posts. Full-back Oliver Lawry converted for a 26-6 scoreline.
One try quickly turned into two for the home side after hooker Daniel O’Donnell sliced through the defence from dummy half to draw and pass to fellow hooker Nicholas Lenaz to race 30 metres to score next to the posts for a 26-12 scoreline.
Manly claimed a try to second-rower Broden Konz with four minutes left after half-back Tylor Bunting kicked on the first tackle from a scrum to send Konz over for the 26-16 scoreline.
The Sea Eagles are back at 4 Pines Park to take on the Canberra Raiders in round nine on Saturday May 4 at 12pm.
Parramatta 26 (Tries: Mohammed Alameddine 6’, Joshua Lynn 20’, Te Hurinui Twidle 25’, Antioch Faitala-Mariner 30’, Domenico De Stradis 42’. Goals: Te Hurinui Twidle 3/5) d Sea Eagles 16 (Tries: Calab Navale 51’, Nicholas Lenaz 53’, Broden Konz 66’. Goals: Oliver Lawry 2/3)
