Manly Hand Sharks A Slice Of History

The Cronulla Sharks have been assigned to the history books tonight becoming the first team to suffer three straight losses without crossing for a single point. The Manly Sea Eagles produced a dominant performance, handing the Sharks a 26-0 shutout in front of 13383 fans at Remondis Stadium.

The scoring opened in just the 4th minute of play when Manly fullback Brett Stewart made a break down the left hand side to set up back-rower Justin Horo to crash over. Captain Jamie Lyon added the extras giving his team an early 6-0 lead.

Manly were looking to move the ball around early tonight and it was again Stewart who chimed into the Manly backline to send Steve Matai into some space. Matai showed good footwork and strength to wrestle his way over in the 19th minute. Lyon again converted to give Manly a 12-0 lead.

The Manly captain would soon chime in for a try of his own. In one of the few times Manly sent the ball right in the first half, Daly Cherry-Evans found some space with a neat dummy and sent his skipper over in the 31st minute for an eventual 16-0 halftime lead.

In what proved a couple of cruel blows to the home team's chances tonight, they had two video referee decisions go against them either side of the halftime break. The first just before the break looked a particularly tough call after it appeared winger Sosaia Feki had regained control in a spectacular put down.

In a stunning entry to the game it was Manly back-rower Tom Symonds who would seal the deal for Manly with back to back tries in the 54th and 57th minutes. Symonds first try came after running onto a well-timed pass from Cherry-Evans but it was his second moments later that really set the game alight.

After sending the ball right Lyon put a chip kick back on the inside for a flying Brett Stewart who caught the ball at full stretch before sending Symonds over giving his team a 26-0 lead which is how the score would finish.

The Sharks had a number of opportunities in the final quarter but lacked the attacking fluency to break the Manly defence resulting in an unwanted entry into the record books in what has already been a horror season so far.

Next week they will head up to Suncorp Stadium on Friday night for another tough assignment against the Broncos.

Manly will also play next Friday night in what should prove another blockbuster against their Grand Final conquerors of last year, the Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval.

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (0)
Tries:
Field Goals:
Conversions:
Penalty Goals:

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (26)
Tries: Justin Horo, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Tom Symonds (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (3/5)
Penalty Goals:

The second of Saturday's matches is upon us and both sides have several team changes:
SHARKS: Jono Wright, Jeff Robson & Chris Heighington are OUT, Ricky Leutele starts in 19 replacing Wright, Fa'amanu Brown starts in 14 replacing Jeff Robson, Tinirau Arona and Tupou Sopoaga come on to the bench

MANLY: As well publicised, Anthony Watmough is out after being suspended in Origin 2, Dunamis Lui starts in jersey 15 replacing Watmough with James Hasson coming onto the bench in jersey 18

Coming to you from Remondis Stadium tonight we have the traditional Battle of the Beaches with the Cronulla Sharks taking on the Manly Sea Eagles. The Sharks will be looking for a boost with the return of plenty of players returning from injury tonight.

LATE MAIL SHARKS - Ricky Leutele IN - Jono Wright OUT
Fa'amanu Brown starting for Jeff Robson who is OUT
Tagataese & Tupou will run on with Vave & Lewis dropping to the bench
T. Arona & Sopoaga have also been added to the bench with Chris Heighington out tonight

LATE MAIL MANLY- Dunamis Lui replaces the suspended Anthony Watmough in the run on side and James Hasson comes onto the bench

1: Were under way with Sharks getting 1st use

2: A good 1st set from the Sharks making 50m & kicking deep

3: Manly also completing their 1st set with Gardner cleaning up a DCE kick

4: A good run from Lyon making good in roads

5: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Justin Horo. Kick to come.
TRY for Horo who backed up a B.Stewart break down the left

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
The Captain adds the extras & in doing so moves to 3rd on the all time point scorers list for Manly, overtaking Matthew Ridge

8: PENALTY Sharks against Horo for holding down. Sharks ball 40 out now

9: Stewart cleans up a Carney cross field kick

11: Carney finds the line just short of a 40/20

12: A good kick from DCE trapping Gardner deep in his own half

14: Both teams playing well completing their sets at the moment.

15: PENALTY to the Sharks now with a chance to attack deep in Manly's half

15: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Sam Tagataese makes an unforced error.
Big Sam puts it down running onto a pass from Gallen

16: PENALY Manly against Wade Graham for holding down

17: Manly ball 30 out on the attack

17: Scrum to Manly after Ayshford knocks a pass from Stewart down

18: Another scrum for Manly with Ayshford again knocking it down

20: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Steve Matai. Kick to come.
TRY for Matai who wrestled his way over the line after running onto a Stewart pass

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

23: Bryce Gibbs a bit dazed here after copping a forearm from Sene-Lafao. He will play on though with No Penalty awarded

25: Taufua puts down a tough pass from Matai just short of the line in what would have been a magical Manly try

26: PENALTY Manly they have it on halfway now

27: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Steve Matai makes an unforced error.
Matai knocks it on in what was another chance for Manly

28: PENALTY Sharks after Carney was taken out late after kicking. A chance for the Sharks 20 out..

29: Leutele puts it down early in the count though

30: PENALTY Manly, they will have another chance to cross now, 25 out from Sharks line

31: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Jamie Lyon. Kick to come.
TRY for Lyon after DCE found some space to pass for his skipper

32: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon unsuccessful.
Lyon hooks it wide from the sideline

33: Jamie Buhrer makes a half break from the kick off but is brought down just short of half way

34: Gardner defuses a kick from DCE but the Sharks wil have to work it out from deep in their half

35: good play from Carner kicking early in the count to get it back down the other end. Manly scrum 25 out from their line

36: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Jorge Taufua makes an unforced error.
Taufua puts one down from Stewart with Manly looking to move the ball to the edges often tonight

37: PENALTY Sharks, a chance to hit back late in the half...

38: Forward pass from Todd Carney & the Manly defence is standing firm

40: The Sharks digging in late here with some strong runs

40: VIDEO REF for a possible Sharks try..

40: NO TRY with the video ref ruling Feki lost control of the ball in what would have been a spectacular put down, looked controversial though

40: Half Time here in the Sutherland Shire with Manly looking far more dangerous with the ball in hand, although coach Toovey won't be happy after they squandered a number of chances. The Sharks are competing well up the middle but don't seem to have the attacking fluency to trouble the tough Manly defence.

41: Back under way for the 2nd stanza

41: King turns it over & Sharks get a chance early

41: Gallen puts down a short ball from Lewis with plenty of traffic in front of him

43: PENALTY Manly, they have if 40 out from their own line

44: Foran chips for the corner but Taufua knocks it on, 20m tap Sharks

46: Carney puts a grubber kick in that goes straight into the hands of Foran

47: PENALTY Sharks after Gardner was taken high from Foran after a great kick return from Gardner. Foran is on Report

47: Sharks ball 25 out...

48: VIDEO Ref possible Sharks try...

48: NO TRY with Arona held up over the line on the last. Handover for Manly

48: PENALTY Manly, they find touch 45 out from Sharks line

49: Matai puts a sloppy kick in on the last & Gardner cleans it up

50: Sharks make big ground down the left through Leutele & Feki

53: PENALTY Manly, markers not square for the Sharks. Manly ball 30 out from Sharks line...

54: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Tom Symonds. Kick to come.
TRY for Symonds with his 1st touch of the ball for the night running onto a well timed pass from DCE

55: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon converts & its a long way back for the Sharks now

57: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Tom Symonds. Kick to come.
Symonds is in again in a classic Manly try. Lyon put a little chip back on the inside for Stewart to catch on the run & pass for Symonds to cross

58: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon unsuccessful.
Lyon misses the kick this time

59: Gardner defuses a bomb but Manly are looking even more dangerous now

60: Lovely long ball sends Feki down the sideline but Feki kicks & Manly come up with iy

61: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Peta Hiku makes an unforced error.
Hiku loses it in the play the ball

62: Feki crosses but the pass from Carney was forward

64: Kick from Carney rolls into touch, Manly scrum 10 out from their own line

66: Foran returns serve finding touch himself. Sharks scrum 25 out from their line

67: Manly have knocked down an offload from Gardner, Sharks scrum 40 out from Manly line

68: A grubber from Brown rolls touch in goal, Manly 20m tap

70: Foran puts it up high but Gardner has been solid under the bombs tonight

71: Repeat set For the Sharks after Carney made a half break & chipped into the ingoal

72: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Nathan Gardner makes an unforced error.
Gardner puts it down in a good attacking position

73: Tupou intercepts an offload from Lui, Sharks have it 45 out from Manly line

74: Repeat set for the Sharks after Wade Graham grubbers into the in goal & Hiku taking it dead

76: Another missed opportunity for the Sharks with some sloppy play

78: Graham defuses a chip kick from Foran

80: Ballin finds touch 20 out from the Sharks line with a neat kick out of dummy half

80: FULLTIME in the Shire with the Sharks being dominated by a clinical Manly outfit tonight. Thanks for joining us tonight, stay tuned for the Match Report to come soon