A hat-trick of tries to Lachlan Burt has led Manly Leagues to a 24-16 victory over Brothers RLFC in round 18 of the Sydney Shield today in Penrith.
Burt has been a prolific points scorer for Manly Leagues in their first season in the open age competition, with the goal-kicking winger finishing the game with 20 points through three tries and four goals.
Manly Leagues led 16-4 at half-time after a dominant first half with Burt crossing for his first try in just the second minute for a 4-0 lead.
It came after five-eighth Callum Dowell caught a towering bomb from half-back Leroy Murray to offload to Burt to stroll over.
Burt then converted his second try in the 17th minute for a 10-0 lead after he stepped back inside from a pass from centre Jerome Van Der Heide to score.
The Sea Eagles stretched their lead to 16-0 after 29 minutes through a converted try to second-rower and captain Jake Watmough after he stepped and weaved his way over next to the posts from a Dowell pass.
The Brothers got on the board through a try to Tyran Petitt-Young five minutes later before Burt crossed for his hat-trick in the 43rd minute to make it 22-4 after a floating cut out pass from lock Lachlan Armstrong saw the ball bounce perfectly into Burt's arms.
Brothers reduced the margin to 12 when Mitchell Owen crossed 11 minutes later for a 22-10 scoreline.
A penalty goal to Burt six minutes later pushed the margin out past two converted tries for a 24-10 scoreline before Owen crossed for his second with three minutes remaining.
With two games remaining, Manly Leagues sit seventh on the ladder in the 10 team competition with seven wins from 16 games.
Manly Leagues now play Ryde Eastwood Hawks at TG Milner Field on Sunday, August 11, at 3pm.
