A strong and controlled first half by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles laid the platform for a convincing 34-6 victory over South Sydney today in round 16 of the Jersey Flegg Cup.
In a match played in light rain at times, the Sea Eagles scored three first half tries to take a 12 point lead into the break before going on with the job well for Coach Scott Kenna in the team's best win of the season.
It was a clinical performance by the Sea Eagles who had five players missing after being promoted to the NSW Cup team due to a heavy injury toll for the NRL side, resulting in Benjamin Keene-O'Keefe, Campbell Munn, Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota, and Jett Jackson coming up from the Manly Leagues Sydney Shield team.
Keene-O'Keefe, Munn and Jett Jackson played SG Ball Cup for Manly earlier this season.
The Sea Eagles opened the scoring through a try to centre Alton Naiyep next to the posts for a 6-0 lead after 12 minutes.
Burly forward Mariota was rewarded for some strong runs when he carried several defenders over the line to score next to the posts for a 12-0 lead after 23 minutes.
Two minutes later, second rower Jett Jackson crashed over near the posts off a lovely short ball to give the Sea Eagles an 18-0 lead. All three first half tries were converted by full-back Kallum Weatherall-Stacey.
A lack of urgency from the Sea Eagles from a fifth tackle grubber kick saw Souths captain Louis Grossemy cross one minute from half-time for an 18-6 scoreline at the break.
The Sea Eagles started the second half strongly when winger Una Uasi leapt high to take a crossfield kick to score out wide for a 22-6 lead after minutes.
Manly then went back-to-back in quick succession when lock and captain Nicholas Lenaz dived over next to the posts for a 28-6 lead after 43 minutes.
Sea Eagles prop Jesse Jackson used sheer strength in a three man tackle to get the ball down on the line from a short pass from dummy half for a 34-6 lead with nine minutes remaining.
The win moves the Sea Eagles to 20 points and into fourth position subject to results.
Manly now play the bottom placed Kaviti Silktails at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, June 29, at 11am in round 17.
Manly 34 (Alton Naiyep, Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota, Jett Jackson, Una Uasi, Nicholas Lenaz, Jesse Jackson tries; Kallum Weatherall-Stacey 5 goals) d South Sydney 6 (Louis Grossemy try, Emmanuel Di Bartolo goal).
Sea Eagles team
20 Kallum Weatherall-Stacey, 2 Nepote Taufa, 1 Benji Keene-O’Keefe, 4 Alton Naiyep, 5 Una Uasi, 6 Dylan Christensen, 7 Travis May, 8 Carsen Patu, 9 Daniel O’Donnell, 10 Jesse Jackson, 17 Ryan James, 21 Jett Jackson, 14 Nicholas Lenaz (c); interchange 3 Antonio Taufa, 13 Campbell Munn, 15 Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota,16 Simione Laiafi; reserve 18 Cruz Smith
