Cherry-Evans provides the magic as Eagles rout Raiders

IT was one of those performances that would have New South Wales supporters feeling a little bit nervous as the Origin series fast approaches.

Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans was the star in Manly's 54-18 demolition of Canberra in front of 8817 hardy souls at Brookvale Oval.

It was a day for the true believers and those who braved the cool, rainy conditions were treated to a 40-minute attacking masterclass as everything the Eagles touched turned to gold and it was Cherry-Evans who was heavily involved.

The talented halfback could do little wrong in an opening 40 minutes which provided seven tries, five of which he had a direct hand in as the Eagles raced to a 42-4 lead at the break.

Only Raiders winger Reece Robinson's 90-metre effort after a Brett Stewart mistake stemmed the points flow and prevented the Eagles from rewriting the record books for the most amount of points scored in an opening half.

That record remains with Newcastle who blitzed North Queensland in Townsville 48-0 in 2003.

Cherry-Evans told Mark Gasnier and Fox Sports after fulltime it was a game where the home side were lucky everything fell into place especially in the first 40 minutes.

"We did fall away at the end but we played some really good footy for a while there and when it rains it pours."

The win was slightly soured by a knee injury to Jamie Lyon which forced him from the field with about 25 minutes remaining.

Debutante five-eighth Jack Littlejohn provided the perfect foil for Cherry-Evans in the halves with some classy touches including a clever flick pass to his halves partner in the lead-up to Brett Stewart's try just before halftime.

He said coach Geoff Toovey told him to keep it simple.

"I've been nervous since Tuesday when I was told I'd be playing, but it was good to get out there today," he told Lara Pitt.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart can take heart from the Raiders second-half performance where they outscored the home side 14-12.

Captain Terry Campese said the first half was extremely poor.

"It was embarrassing; we didn't turn up with the right attitude," he said.

Manly winger Peta Hiku also had a day out as he equalled David Williams as players to have scored four tries in a game.

Both sides now have next week off as the competition stops for a weekend to allow the Australia-New Zealand test and City-Country to take centre stage.

Match Details
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 54 Canberra Raiders 18
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Crowd: 8817
Halftime Score: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 42 Canberra Raiders 4

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Daly Cherry-Evans
2 points - Brenton Lawrence
1 point - Peta Hiku

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (54)
Tries: Peta Hiku (4), Jamie Lyon, Brenton Lawrence, Anthony Watmough, Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (7/7), Steve Matai (2/2)
Penalty Goals:

CANBERRA RAIDERS (18)
Tries: Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Jack Wighton, Josh McCrone
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (1/2), Anthony Milford (0/2)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Good afternoon footy fans and welcome to Brookvale Oval for today's Round 8 encounter between the Eagles and Raiders. In team news the Raiders are 1-17 and we're awaiting confirmation from the home side.

Team changes for the home side sees David Williams ruled out. He's replaced by Jack Littlejohn in jersey 19 with Jesse Sene-Lefao on the bench for James Hasson.

Fulltime in the Holden Cup and the Raiders have emerged victorious 34-24.

Misty rain falling as both sides prepare to take the field.

The Raiders go to the southern end of Brookvale Oval as the home side are led out by Jamie Lyon.

1: We're underway!

1: Good set from the Raiders to open proceedings.

2: Lyon grubbers into the corner which clean bowls Milford who then goes to retrieve the ball but his foot touches the sideline. Manly scrum.

4: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Peta Hiku. Kick to come.
Hiku opens the scoring for the Eagles in their first foray inside the Raiders 20. Cherry-Evans provides a perfect pass onto the winger's chest.

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon adds the extras from out near the sideline.

6: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Manly try.

6: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Jamie Lyon. Kick to come.
Lyon ensures the home side go back-to-back. He finishes off a beautiful 60m play where DCE sliced through.

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon adds the extras again.

8: PENALTY Manly. Shillington takes too long in the ruck. In back play Glenn Stewart leaves the field and heads up the tunnel.

8: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Brenton Lawrence. Kick to come.
Lawrence scores for the home side and Cherry-Evans again provides the key pass to put Buhrer into space. He then drew Milford to send Lawrence over.

10: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon converts from alongside the posts.

11: Some enterprising play from the Eagles looks to be providing another try but Cherry-Evans puts Stewart's flick pass down. Raiders will finally get their hands on the ball.

12: PENALTY Raiders. Watmough not getting off the tackled player.

14: The Raiders kick on the last. The ball rebounds off the defenders before the Eagles complete the tackle. Changeover.

15: 40/20 MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Jack Littlejohn kicks a 40/20.
Littlejohn puts the Eagles back on the attack.

15: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Anthony Watmough. Kick to come.
Watmough crashes over to extend the lead further off a clever inside pass from the five-eighth on his debut.

17: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon makes it 4/4 with the boot.

18: Fensom and Horo exchange pleasantries as Cherry-Evans puts boot to ball.

19: Blindside play from the Eagles and Milford does well to dive on the loose ball on his own line.

21: Cherry-Evans throws a pass to Buhrer who isn't expecting it and puts it down. Raiders scrum.

22: Fensom is hit in a solid tackle from Lui and the ball spews free. Manly scrum.

23: PENALTY Manly. Joel Edwards is too slow getting off the tackled player for the referees liking.

24: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Peta Hiku. Kick to come.
Hiku crosses in the corner after Cherry-Evans again has a hand in the lead-up. He passed to Lyon after the Raiders raced up in defence. Lyon batted the pass onto his centre who beat Milford in the race to the line.

25: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon adds the extras from the western sideline to put the home side out by 30 and stay in front of the clock.

27: Littlejohn comes up with a good kick into touch. Raiders scrum 30m from their own line.

29: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Brett Stewart. Kick to come.
The Eagles are in again and this time it's Stewart who crosses! Cherry-Evans again is heavily involved with Littlejohn also providing a classy touch in the leadup.

30: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon again adds the two.

31: PENALTY Manly. Fensom has his hand on the ball.

33: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Manly try.

33: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Peta Hiku. Kick to come.
Hiku completes his hat-trick and no prizes for guessing who provided the kick into the in-goal - the classy little halfback.

34: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon keeps his perfect goalkicking record in tact by splitting the uprights from the touchline.

35: Matai takes off down the sideline and flicks the pass on the inside with numbers queuing up. Luckily for the Raiders Campese gets himself into position to defuse the situation.

35: And then the Raiders lose the ball again.

36: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Raiders try.

36: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Reece Robinson. Kick to come.
Robinson stems the blood flow by scooping up an error from Brett Stewart. Allwood raced out of the line to put a shot on the fullback which forced the error. Robinson then raced 80m to score.

37: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker unsuccessful.
Croker hits the post from out wide.

38: Manly throw the ball to their left side and the Raiders knock the ball down. Manly scrum.

39: Lui wrestles with the defence and the ball pops out. Raiders with the final chance of the half to score points.

40: Wighton kicks across his body into the in-goal and Littlejohn bats it dead.

40: Halftime at Brooky and Manly lead 42-4.

40: Both sides back out on the park.

41: We're underway in the second stanza.

41: Lyon grubbers into touch 10m from the Raiders line.

43: McCrone finds touch 20m from the Manly line but he put boot to ball outside the 40. Manly scrum.

44: Lawrence appears to lose the ball but it finds the arms of Littlejohn. Play on.

44: A great kick into the in-goal from Littlejohn and the Manly chase is brilliant to trap Milford. Raiders dropout.

45: Cherry-Evans throws a pass which misses the mark for the first time today. Lyon puts boot to ball but it goes dead. Raiders restart

47: Edwards kicks into the corner and Tupou almost wins the race to the ball but Stewart just gets there in the nick of time.

49: Campese bombs towards the posts and the Raiders knock on. Scrambling defence from the Eagles repels the Raiders. Manly 20m restart.

50: Littlejohn's kick trickles dead. Raiders 20m restart.

51: Croker loses the ball in the play the ball. Manly scrum.

52: Glenn Stewart returns to the field despite suffering an ankle injury and the locals love it.

52: PENALTY Manly. Raiders taking too long in the ruck.

53: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jarrod Croker. Kick to come.
Croker races the length of the field after Glenn Stewart's first pass upon returning to the field finds the Raiders centre who races 80m to score.

55: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker converts from beside the posts as Lyon heads up the tunnel for Manly.

56: Edwards loses the ball on tackle two for the visitors.

57: Cherry-Evans kicks across field and the Raiders knock on through Robinson. Manly scrum.

58: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Peta Hiku. Kick to come.
Hiku scores his fourth try of the afternoon as the Stewart brothers combine on the right side to send him over in the corner.

60: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Steve Matai successful.
With Lyon off the field Matai has a conversion attempt from out wide which sails over the black dot.

61: Robinson takes advantage of some lazy kick chase from the Eagles to move the ball up field.

62: Campese kicks over the top on tackle three but his chases didn't know about it and the Eagles have the ball again.

64: PENALTY Manly. Croker gives away the penalty in the ruck.

65: PENALTY Manly. Hiku is taken out after kicking the ball.

66: Lawrence pops the pass to Littlejohn who can't handle. Raiders breathe again.

67: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Jorge Taufua. Kick to come.
Taufua brings up the half century in style! Milford chipped for himself before Stewart picked up the ball to send Cherry-Evans on his way. The halfback then kicked centre field for Sene-Lafao who kicked the ball into the post before Taufua finished it off with a somersault.

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Steve Matai successful.
Matai continues the perfect record with the boot.

73: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Raiders try.

73: No Try. Stewart comes up with a trysaver on a runaway Jarrod Croker following a charge down.

74: Sene-Lefao tries to pop a miracle pass and comes up with the mistake.

75: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Raiders try.

76: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jack Wighton. Kick to come.
Wighton crosses in the corner after some scrappy play.

76: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Anthony Milford unsuccessful.
Milford misses to the left.

77: Taufua rips the ball out of the hands of Vaughan who regains it.

77: Lawrence tries to play soccer but can't do it successfully and the Raiders have the ball again

78: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Josh McCrone. Kick to come.
Shillington brushes through some disappointing defence from Lawrence and finds McCrone in support.

78: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Anthony Milford unsuccessful.
Milford somehow misses to the right from alongside the posts.

80: The Raiders throw the ball around as the clock winds down

80: Littlejohn puts the ball into touch and that will do us this afternoon.