Manly Warringah Sea Eagles fought hard but were ultimately no match for the Penrith Panthers, going down 46-14 in round of the Jersey Flegg Cup in Penrith.
Match: Sea Eagles v Panthers
Round 6 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
away Team
Panthers
2nd Position
Venue: Parker Street Reserve, Penrith
The Panthers opened their account with tries to Ahmani Leilua and Jirah Liddiard in the sixth and ninth minute for an early 12-0 lead.
Penrith’s halves combined for their third try in the 16th minute. Half-back Taylor Bunting, who left Manly last year after four seasons, placed a grubber kick through the defence for five-eighth Nick Murphy who grounded the ball next to the posts for a 16-point lead.
The Sea Eagles hit back four minutes later with a good shift to the right edge to send winger Aymn Hamilton over untouched.
Captain Callum Dowell threw the final ball with an inch-perfect cut-out pass to help cut the deficit to 16-6.
Penrith capitalised on missed chances from Manly en route to tries in the 27th and 34th minute to Jenson Tuaoi and Hokafonu Lemoto for a 28-6 scoreline.
The Sea Eagles scored on the stroke of half-time with another well worked shift to the right edge as Hamilton crossed for his second. The try in the right corner helped soften the blow at the break as Manly trailed 28-10.
An error deep into Penrith territory gifted Manly a chance to score in the 45th minute. Utility Thomas Thelander placed a perfectly weighted grubber kick to the in-goal area where hooker TJ Herring chased.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get a proper grounding on the ball as possession was turned over.
The Panthers took advantage of the missed chance and scored three minutes later through Harry Armstrong to extend their lead to 34-10.
Hamilton sealed his hat-trick in emphatic fashion as the Sea Eagles scored in the 53rd minute.
Five-eighth Travis May put a bomb up to the right corner that was swatted down by Thelander.
Centre Brendan Couzens acted swiftly and flicked the ball over his shoulder to Hamilton who dived over in the corner to score for a 34-14 scoreline.
Momentum continued to shift back and forth as Manly failed to take advantage of a chance deep in Penrith’s half.
The home side made their chances count and scored tries in the 70th and 74th minute through Lemoto and Armstrong to take their lead to 32 points.
The Sea Eagles had the final chance of the match as Hamilton searched for a fourth try.
The winger took a cut-out pass from Dowell and attempted to bump off his opposing winger but unfortunately ended up over the sideline as he flicked the ball in desperately, turning over possession.
The siren sounded moments later for full-time for a final scoreline of 46-14.
