Knights defeat Manly in front of
bumper Newcastle crowd

Fulltime score: Round 23 KNIGHTS 22 v SEA EAGLES 14

Match summary: The Newcastle Knights have defeated the Manly Sea Eagles 22-14 in front of over 26,000 people at EnergyAustralia Stadium today.

The victory sees the Knights maintain their 2005 resurgence in their quest to avoid the wooden spoon.

After trailing 14-8 at half time, the Knights came back to score three unanswered tries and post their fifth win from six starts.

With three rounds remaining, the Knights are on 16 points and still in last position, but only three points behind the Rabbitohs.

The Sea Eagles are in seventh position but amongst a log-jam of teams on 26 points.

Knights v Eagles match photos: Click here to see the photo gallery for this game

Scorers: NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 22 Tries:Thaiday, Tighe,Johns,Salkeld Goals:Johns 3/5 MANLY SEA EAGLES 14 Tries: Stephenson 2, Stewart Goals: Williamson 1/3

EnergyAustralia Stadium Crowd: 26,115 Referee: Tony Archer Half time: Sea Eagles 14-8

Live commentary: A packed house at Energy Australia Stadium for this clash between 6th and 8th. Changes: Knights-Carmont,Perry OUT K.Gidley IN Sea Eagles-Alberts,Tutt OUT Matai IN

0 min: Kickoff!

3 min: TRY Knights Knights off to a dream start after a great run from Thaiday who ends up scoring. Conversion Johns. 6-0 Knights.

6 min: Penalty Goal-Knights Knights have had all the ball and get a penalty near the posts and Johns adds the two points. Knights 8-0.

8 min: NEWS Sea Eagles get the ball for the first time in the match.

11 min: NEWS Manly need to pick their discipline up if they want to win this game. Knights leading 3 penalties to nil.

20 min: NEWS All the possession with the Knights but they convert with any more points.

27 min: TRY-Sea Eagles Paul Stephenson scores the first of the afternoon for the Manly side. Conversion from Williamson unsuccessful. Knights 8-4.

33 min: TRY-Sea Eagles Stephenson grabs a double as Manly charge back into the contest. Williamson unsuccsessful again. Knights 8-8 Sea Eagles

36 min: TRY Sea Eagles Sea Eagles on fire as this time Brett Stewart crosses the stripe. Williamson Converts. Sea Eagles 14-8.

Halftime: Knights got off to a great start to lead 8-0 in less than 6 minutes but the Sea Eagles charged back with 3 late tries in the second half to take a 14-8 lead into the sheds.

41 min: Second half underway...

43 min: TRY Knights Brad Tighe gets the Knights off to a great start to the second half. Conversion Unsuccessful. Sea Eagles 14-12

62 min: NEWS Still no change to the score with a great tussle going on.

67 min: TRY Knights Some individual brilliance from Johns allows him to score and put the Knights back in front. Johns converts his own try. Knights 18-14

75 min: NEWS Knights only just clinging onto a 4 point lead.

77 min: TRY Knights Salkeld seals it for the Knights in front of a packed house at Energy Australia Stadium.

FULLTIME: The Knights have come away with a 22-14 victory after being down by 14-8 at the halftime break. ----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - A Johns (Knights) 2 - B Tighe (Knights) 1 - S Menzies (Sea Eagles) -----------------------------------------