Manly storm home against Rabbitohs

NRL FINALS WEEK 1 - Full Time :: September 8th, 2007 08:30 PM Venue: Brookvale Oval Referee: Shayne Hayne

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (30) Tries: Steve Menzies (2), Anthony Watmough, Brett Stewart (2) Goals: Matt Orford (5/5) South Sydney Rabbitohs (6) Tries: Paul Mellor Goals: Joe Williams (1/2) HT: 6-2 Sea Eagles.

The Manly Sea Eagles have won through to the third week of the finals with a flattering 30-6 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brookvale Oval tonight, in front of 19,785 fans. Manly held a slender 6-2 lead at halftime.

Prior to kickoff Souths were boosted with the unlikely return of David Kidwell.

After several early penalties the Rabbitohs took an early lead through the boot of Joe Williams.

Six minutes later Manly had two tries denied within a minute. Steve Menzies was ruled to have been held short of the line, and several plays later the ball hit referee Shayne Hayne off a rebounded kick, denying Brett Stewart a try.

Following a Souths error, Manly got on the board after 16 minutes, with Menzies busting the Souths line and running 20 metres to score.

There would be no more scoring in the first half, with both teams having their share of chances but failing to complete.

The second half started in very promising fashion, with Paul Mellor scoring off a Joe Williams cross field kick to level the game at six-all.

That was as good as the second half got for the Rabbitohs. Anthony Watmough scored a powerful try on the 51st minute mark.

The most controversial moment of the match took place just short of the hour mark. After Orford put in a kick he ran into the back of Ben Rogers who had simply turned his back to the kicker. With play stopped to deal with the Orford injury a touch judge took his moment in the spotlight and advised Hayne that the