Manly Warringah Sea Eagles remain in fifth place in the race towards the Jersey Flegg Cup finals following a 30-10 loss to competition leaders Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium today.
With just three rounds remaining and the top five teams contesting the finals, the Sea Eagles are on 28 points, one point clear of Cronulla in sixth and two clear of the Dragons and Wests Tigers.
On a cool, sunny day in Canberra, the Sea Eagles were backing up after playing in the humid conditions of Churchill Park, Lautoka, last Saturday where they beat the Kaiviti Silktails 28-22.
After a promising start, the Sea Eagles conceded the first try when Raiders five-eighth Jalen Afamasaga got on the outside of centre Mason Peut to score in the corner for a 4-0 lead after 10 minutes.
The Raiders then bombed a tryscoring opportunity down ttwo minutes later down the left side after failing to send a pass back inside to an unmarked man.
After being held up on the previous play, the Sea Eagles opened their account when they shifted the ball right for winger Una Uasi to cross in the corner in the 29th minute for a 4-all scoreline.
The lead was short lived after Canberra lock Delahia Wigmore burrowed his way over from dummy half for an 8-4 lead after 33 minutes following a trick shot play from a tap on the previous play. The score remained that way at half-time.
Afamasaga grabbed his second try three minutes after the break when he again got on the outside of his man to score in the corner. Trae Bennetto converted for a 14-4 lead to the Raiders after 40 minutes.
Canberra jumped to an 18-4 lead when hooker/captain Shaun Packer dived over out wide. Bennetto converted for a 20-4 lead after 55 minutes.
The Raiders went further ahead with a try in the left corner to winger Kane Ruston for a 24-4 lead with 11 minutes remaining.
Manly hit back five minutes later with a try in the corner to Antonio Taufa. Full-back Blake Metcalfe converted to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 24-10.
The Raiders found more open space on Manly's right for centre Regan Carr to score in the corner for a 28-10 lead with three minutes left. Bennetto converted for a 30-10 lead.
The Sea Eagles now face the 13th placed Warriors in their final home at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, August 17, at 11am.
