A late second half comeback almost saw Manly Leagues snatch victory at the death on Saturday against the Hill Bulls in the Sydney Shield competition.
In an entertaining and fiery game at times, the Sea Eagles overcame an 18-6 half-time deficit to rally late at Kellyville Park before going down 36-32 in the round 10 match.
Both sides scored six tries each, had a player each sin-binned, before there was a biting allegation late in the match.
The Bulls opened the scoring when a shift to the left along their backline saw winger Troy Black dive over in the corner for a 6-0 lead after seven minutes.
Manly held firm until the 23rd minute when centre Lewis Habkouk got on the outside of his man to score out wide for a 12-0 lead.
The Sea Eagles opened their account four minutes later when half-back Callum Dowell took the line on to step inside two defenders to score on the last tackle for a 12-6 scoreline.
The Bulls took an 18-6 lead into the break after hooker Tom Watson caught the defence napping to burrow over next to the posts.
Unfortunately for the Sea Eagles, the Bulls started the second half strongly to get out to a 30-6 lead after 46 minutes through tries to centre Joseph Jaber and Kody Papa.
Dowell then took the line on before delivering a lovely cut out pass for winger Benjamin Keene-O’Keefe to dive over in the right corner for a 30-10 scoreline after 48 minutes.
Five minutes later, Manly five-eighth Leroy Murray swooped on a drop ball from an inside pass off a kick to score out wide to leave the visitors trailing 30-14.
Papa then grabbed his second for the Bulls to take a 36-14 lead after 60 minutes.
However, the never-say-die attitude of Coach Anthony Watmough’s men was there to be seen again as the Sea Eagles rallied back hard to get within a whisper of victory.
A high, floating pass from Dowell saw the ball fall into the arms nicely for centre Justin Burt to cross to make it 36-20 after 65 minutes.
Manly hooker Thomas Thelander then crashed over from dummy half seven minutes later to make it 36-26.
Tempers then flared before Hills centre Joseph Jaber made a biting allegation against Manly lock Lachlan Armstrong that was placed on report.
A short ball from Dowell then saw barnstorming prop Remi Mant crash over near the posts for a 36-32 scoreline with three minutes remaining before the Bulls held on for victory.
Hills Bulls 36 (Kody Papa 2, Troy Black, Lewis Habkouk, Tom Watson, Joseph Jaber tries; Dylan Marshall 6 goals) d Manly Leagues 32 (Callum Dowell, Benjamin Keene-O'Keefe, Leroy Murray, Justin Burt, Thomas Thelander, Remi Mant tries; Lachlan Burt 4 goals)
