Manly Leagues recorded their biggest win in the Sydney Shield with a crushing 38-6 victory over Cabramatta at a windy Narrabeen today.
The Sea Eagles were in superb form in their seven tries to one victory, giving them their sixth win under Coach Anthony Watmough in their first season in the Sydney Shield open men's age competition.
Manly led 16-6 at half-time before going on with the demolition in the second half with prop Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota and winger Lachlan Burt scoring two tries each.
Mariota opened the scoring for Manly in the seventh minute after he ran onto a short pass from lock Lachlan Armstrong to score next to the posts for a 6-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Burt got his first when he leapt high to take a short kick from half-back Callum Dowell for a 10-0 lead.
Cabramatta reduced the margin to 16-6 with a converted try to lock Samuel Squire in the 17th minute before Manly centre Antonio Taufa gave Manly Leagues a 14-6 lead after he hit a hole off a Leroy Murray pass to cross out wide.
Burt then landed a penalty goal on half-time for the 16-6 lead at the break.
The second half saw Manly Leagues just dominate Cabramatta, running in four unanswered tries. The first came in the 48th minute through centre Jerome Van Der Heide after he was on the spot for a drop pass from Cabramatta after a long floating cut out pass from Dowell.
Five minutes later, Wiremu Tibbutt made it 26-6 when he dummied from dummy half to score next to the posts.
Burt then grabbed his second three minutes later for a 32-6 lead after taking an intercept pass to score under the posts.
Mariota finished off the scoring when he used his strength to cross next to the posts for his second in the 73rd minute off a short ball from Murray.
The win moves Manly Leagues six points clear of the bottom placed Moorebank Rams with three games remaining.
Manly Leagues now play Brothers at Parker Street Reserve, Penrith, on Sunday, August 4, at 1pm.
Sea Eagles 38 (Taulauniuotagaloa Mariota 2, Lachlan Burt 2, Antonio Taufa, Jerome Van Der Heide, Wiremu Tibbutt tries; Burt 5 goals) d Cabramatta 6 (Samuel Squire try, Damian Nati goal).
