Manly Leagues finished their debut season in the Sydney Shield with an entertaining 38-26 win over the Hills Bulls at 4 Pines Park today.
The sunny conditions definitely played in the hands of both teams, with the attack being on show as Manly winger Lachlan Burt (pictured) and Hills' Tom Watson each crossed for first half hat-tricks.
A quick second half onslaught saw Manly put on three back-to-back-to-back tries in 19 minutes to give themselves a comfortable 38-16 lead.
Manly Leagues opened up the encounter after five-eighth Callum Dowell threw a rocket of a cut out ball for Burt to dive over in the corner for a 6-0 lead after five minutes.
Burt continued his dream start from the re-start to race 70 metres in beating several defenders to score his second in consecutive minutes for a 12-0 lead.
The Bulls hit back in the 11th minute, haulting Manly's hot start through hooker Tom Watson who burrowed his way over from dummy half for a 12-4 scoreline.
Watson put Hills within two after he grubbered for himself and scooped the ball up to score underneath the posts for a converted try.
Burt crossed over in the 26th minute for his third try to take Manly's lead to 16-10. The try came from a little razzle dazzle from halfback Leroy Murray, who dummied to his second rower, who was cutting back on the inside before he threw a floating cut out ball for Burt to cross untouched.
Hills Bulls locked up the scoreline through Watson's who would again burrow his way over from dummy half for his third try to make it 16-all.
The gridlock wouldn’t last long though with the home side striking in the final minutes of the half through fullback Jake Smith who cut back on the inside stepping multiple defenders to score for a 22-16 lead at half-time.
Manly started the second half with the hot hand going the length of the field for a well worked team try that saw winger Mason Peut score at the end of it for a 28-16 scoreline in the 41st minute.
The home side extended their lead to a comfortable 16 points in the 44th minute through centre Antonio Taufua who finished a swift right edge shift.
The second half was all Manly, with halfback Leroy Murray scoring underneath the posts after being on the receiving end of a perfect chip kick from Burt who was streaming down the touchline. Burt converted for a 38-16 lead in the 61st minute.
Hills finally hit back after conceding 22 straight points thanks to back rower Alex Fonoti who ran 40 metres to cross untouched. Griffin converted to get Hills back within 16.
Hills Bulls would get the final try of the match through centre Maile Li who just muscled his way over a short side for a fulltime score of 38-26.
