Sea Eagles hold on to down Roosters

v BYE

The Manly Sea Eagles have held on to a slim lead, to defeat the Sydney Roosters 22-20 at Allianz Stadium this evening.

The Roosters started the game much more confidently than they have in previous weeks, however it was the Sea Eagles who opened the scoring with a try to Jorge Tafua after a mistake from Latrell Mitchell. Lyon added the extras.

The Roosters returned serve in the 10th minute, with Shaun Kenny-Dowall running over in the corner. Sio Siua Taukeiaho missed the conversion, and the Roosters trailed by 2.

Taukeiaho was on target with a penalty goal a few minutes later however, although Jamie Lyon picked up two points of his own in the 24th minute to maintain the Roosters deficit.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall was again inolved in the 32nd minute - this time after a deft kick from Jackson Hastings. 

Blake Ferguson looked to be in some trouble just prior to half time, clutching at his wrist, however he recovered quickly. At half time, the Sea Eagles had the lead 10-8.

The second half started well for the Roosters, with the home side making metres almost at will. In the 43rd minute, Blake Ferguson looked to have made a full recovery from his previous injury, as he muscled his way over the try line to extend his team's lead.

But the next 20 minutes were all Manly. A flimsy tackle from Blake Ferguson saw Dylan Walker break free and sprint for the tryline. The on field referees went to the bunker, but saw no reason to take the try away from Walker.

A few minutes later some clever play from Matt Parcell saw the Sea Eagles even the scores. From dummy half, Parcell noticed both markers offside, and sprinted directly for them, earning the penalty for his side. Lyon lined up the penalty goal, and the scores were locked at 16 apiece.

The Sea Eagles then took the lead in the 58th minute, with a neat kick from Jamie Lyon finding his winger, who passed back inside for Lyon to spin over the line.

The Roosters hit back in the 67th minute, although the try was not without controversy. Daniel Tupou toed through a loose pass, before diving on it for a try, but the Sea Eagles seemed convinced the pass went forward. Hasting missed with the conversion, and the Roosters still trailed by 2.

A first half injury to Jamie Buhrer (broken hand) was compounded by a second half injury to Daly Cherry-Evans (left ankle). 

The Roosters threw everything at the Sea Eagles in the last ten minutes, desperate for a try. They thought they had the game won in the 72nd minute, as they claimed a try, but Mitch Aubusson was ruled offside.

But the Sea Eagles held on, and with the help of some subtle timewasting tactics in the final few minutes, ground out the game to win 22-20.

Next week Manly have a Thursday night home game against the struggling Rabbitohs, while the Roosters are at "home" to the Warriors on Sunday afternoon in Gosford.