Brave Sea Eagles fight hard to end in Harvey Norman women's
The quest to make the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s finals series in their debut season has come to an end for a very brave Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles suffered a 22-14 loss to the fourth placed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Saturday in round 10.
With the top four teams contesting the finals, Manly gave their all in the must win match, but now sit five points behind the Bulldogs heading into next week’s final round.
It was a gallant effort by the Sea Eagles at Homebush, with many of the girls playing on the wide, open spaces of the Olympics venue for the very first time, compared to some of the hardened lessened grounds they have played on this season.
After trailing 4-0 after the opening minute, the Sea Eagles took a 6-4 lead after 17 minutes following a try to Chelsea Smyth. The full-back gave a lovely cut out pass to winger Teagan Long to find clear open space down the right side before offloading back inside to send Smyth over next to the posts.
Eight minutes later, Manly took a 10-4 lead after centre Shontelle Stowers managed to get the ball down out wide off a great pass from half-back Tayla Montgomery.
The Sea Eagles then took a handy 14-4 lead into half-time when Montgomery and Stowers combined for winger Pier Pritchard to plant the ball down out wide in the 30th minute.
The Bulldogs got back to 14-10 through a try to prop Macie Carlile from a short pass from dummy half before the home side took the lead in the 57th minute through a converted try to winger Charlotte Eather for a 16-14 scoreline.
Canterbury captain Sarahcen Oliver, who set up the try for Eather, then crossed for her own converted try in the 67th minute for the 22-14 victory.
The Colormaker Industrees Player of the Match award for Manly went to Chelsea Smyth.
