Manly upset Roosters

A very understrength Manly side took out a messy round 2 encounter at the Sydney Football Stadium, beating the Roosters 27 - 16 in front of 11,016 fans.

Referees Cummins and De Las Heras wore out their whistles in the first half with efforts upholding the rules of the game. Errors and penalties dominated the first half's play, but when either side could hang on, points were on offer too.

Manly opened the scoring off the back of a Roosters error with a try to Tony Williams in the forth minute.  Cherry-Evans converted then kicked a penalty goal a few whistle blows later to give Manly an early 8 point lead.

The whistle had a good workout throughout the half.  Roosters to were able to convert whistle blows into points with their first try coming on the back of a penalty.  Pierce put Aubusson in to score in the 13th minute and despite Carney being back on the field Anasta remained on goal kicking duty and reduced the deficit to 2 points.

Roosters crossed again in the 19th minute, with their prolific try scorer Kenny-Dowall proving too good for Manly defence.  Anasta's boot failed on this occasion hooking it away.  Manly struck again before half time with Watmough powering over in the 32nd minute and Cherry-Evans continuing a perfect afternoon with the kicking tee.


Manly took a 14 - 10 lead into half time.  Roosters came out of the interval strongly completing sets and regaining the lead in the 46th minute with a try to Todd Carney, this one being converted by Anasta, putting the Roosters up 16 - 14.

Manly picked up their own efforts and once the errors stopped started to really contest the game, this was converted into points with Foran crossing in the third minute and Cherry Evans continguing his 100% goal kicking game.

From there Rooters began to lose their way with ill discipline returning to their game.  Manly capatlised on this with some presence of mind from William Hoppoate to pounce on a loose ball after a mid air contest and score in the 67th minute.  Errors and penalties ruled the rest of the match and Roosters never looked like getting back in.

In the final minute Cherry-Evans proved his ability to get the ball between the posts with or without a kicking tee posting a field goal in the dying seconds giving Manly a 27 - 16 victory.

Match Details
Sydney Roosters 16 were defeated by Manly Sea Eagles 27
National Rugby League - Round 2 - Sunday March 20, 2011 3:00pm
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins and Tony De Las Heras
Video Referee: Russell Smith
Touch Judges: Paul Holland and David Abood
Crowd: 11,016
Halftime: Sydney Roosters 10 Manly Sea Eagles 14

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Kieran Foran (1 Try)
2 Points - Brett Stewart
1 Point - Jamie Buhrer

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (16)
Tries: Todd Carney, Mitchell Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Conversions: Braith Anasta (2/3)

MANLY SEA EAGLES (27)
Tries: Anthony Watmough, Tony Williams, Kieran Foran, William Hopoate
Field Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (1/1)
Conversions: Daly Cherry-Evans (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Hello and welcome to the Sydney Football Stadium where last year's grand finalists the Sydney Roosters will take on a depleted Manly Sea Eagles.

We have slightly greasy conditions here where the Roosters have taken out the Under 20s match 34-16.
A fair bit of team news here
Manly already quite depleted have Glenn Stewart out, so brother Brett will captain the side. Jamie Buhrer takes his spot in the run on side. In jersey 19, Jamie Harrison comes onto the bench.

For the Roosters, Carney will start at 5/8, Anasta moves to lock and Myles into the second row. Nuasala moves to the bench, where Friend will join him with Riddell starting in the hooker position. Round one two try hero Symonds gets scratched.
1 min: Manly kick off and we are underway.
2 min: Bad pass from Pierce and Anasta knocks on.
4 min: TRY
TRY, Manly convert their field position to points, with Tony Williams getting away from a would be tackler to score. Cherry-Evans makes no mistake with the boot.
Manly Sea Eagles 6-0
6 min: Shocking pass from dummy half and Roosters cough it up again, their own side of halfway.
8 min: PENALTY GOAL
Mitchell Pierce gives away a penalty 8 metres out for a strip in a 2 man tackle.
Manly Sea Eagles 8-0
9 min: PENALTY to Manly, Myles invites Manly back in to Roosters' territory.
10 min: Galuvao drops a terrible pass from Kite.
11 min: Another error from the Roosters who can't complete a set.
12 min: PENALTY to the Roosters. Ballin penalised for moving off the mark.
13 min: TRY
TRY to the Roosters. Pierce throws a perfect pass to Aubusson to angle a lovely run to the line to put first Roosters points on the board. And Anasta converts it.
Manly Sea Eagles 8-6
15 min: PENALTY to the Roosters. Momentum swinging here, great kick for touch from Carney bringing Roosters 15 out from the Manly line.
16 min: Another knock on from Myles.
17 min: Great try saving tackle from Stewart, but Roosters now in excellent field position.
19 min: TRY
Kenny Dowall too good for the Manly defence, runs into score his 59th try - Anasta hooks it away and the conversion is unsuccessful.
Sydney Roosters 10-8
21 min: Terrible kick from Manly, straight down to Perrett, Manly not doing themselves any favours, as the first tackle is made about ten shy of halfway.
23 min: Roosters fail to complete another set, and yet another scrum wasting time, this one deep in Manly territory.
24 min: Perrett fails to field a kick, knocks on and Manly get a scrum on the opposite side of the firld about 15 out from the Roosters line
25 min: Leilua appears to knock on an intercept, but referee Cummins rules a forward pass from Manly.
27 min: Knock on Perrett, neither side can hang on to this ball.
29 min: PENALTY to Manly, Myles a little undisciplined this afernoon.
32 min: TRY
Watmough shows great strength from dummy half and powers over to score Cherry-Evans converts.
Manly Sea Eagles 14-10
34 min: Whistles blowing in all direction.
35 min: PENALTY against Roosters inside the ten.
36 min: Minichiello race for a Foran kick, great effort from both but the bounce favours the Roosters number 1.
38 min: Roosters fail to penetrate and give away the ball.
39 min: Cherry-Evans butchers a certain try ignoring Brett Stewart in support.
40 min: PENALTY to the Roosters for a play the ball infringement.
40 min: Half time hooter blows to give the whistles a breather.
41 min: De Las Heras blows time on and Anasta kicks off.
41 min: Minichiello gives the Roosters a 20 metre tap taking the ball in goal.
42 min: Foran hands on the ball give roosters a repeat set.
43 min: PENALTY to the Roosters. George Rose second effort gives Roosters a penalty 12 metres from the Manly line.
45 min: TRY
TRY to the Roosters. Carney runs himself in to score the opening try of the second half and his first of the season. Anasta converts.
Sydney Roosters 16-14
46 min: Hargreaves juggles and loses the ball.
48 min: Foran taken over the Eastern touchline, Roosters coming out strong in this second 40.
50 min: Both sides completing sets now.
53 min: TRY
TRY to Manly. Tony Williams links up with Kieran Foran who opens Manly's first half account. Conversion from Cherry-Evans successful.
Manly Sea Eagles 20-16
55 min: Manly's kicking game has improved this half, with Foran forcing Minichiello to play at a ball which stops in goal.
56 min: Brett Stewart loses the ball in a jolting tackle from Myles.
58 min: PENALTY against Nate Myles hanging on in the tackle for too long.
60 min: Another time wasting scrum this one for the Roosters ten out from their own line
61 min: David Williams loses the ball in the tackle to give Roosters good field position.
62 min: Roosters go for an odd 5th play option to hand the ball back to Manly.
64 min: Leilua runs in with a big chance but brilliantly stopped by Kieran Foran.
66 min: Shaun Kenny-Dowall loses the ball in a Galovau tackle to give Manly the ball 20 metres from the Roosters' line.
VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Manly TRY.
67 min: TRY
Benefit of the doubt TRY to William Hopoate. Cherry-Evans conversion successful.
Manly Sea Eagles 26-16
68 min: Anasta short kick off knocked on by Leilua.
70 min: More time being wasted in a scrum. This one to the Roosters 15 out from their line.
71 min: PENALTY to the Roosters for a strip.
72 min: Roosters knock on, not to be outdone, Manly knock the ball on to hand the ball back about 30 out from their line.
74 min: Mark Riddell doesn't play the ball correctly thus handing it over to Manly.
75 min: Roosers given a bit of a sniff here, need to find a way through this Manly defence if they are to give themselves any chance in this game.
76 min: PENALTY to the Manly Waera-Hargreaves called offside.
77 min: Shuan Kenny-Dowall has been off for the last 20, but word is there is nothing wrong with him.
79 min: Strong defensive displays from Manly here, who have had a strong second half.
80 min: FIELD GOAL
Daly Cherry-Evans kicks a field goal on the hooter to put a cherry on the top of this upset victory.
Manly Sea Eagles 27-16