Orford field goal steals
Manly win

Round 8
Manly Sea Eagles 23 v Parramatta Eels 22
at Sydney Cricket Ground
Referees: Steven Clark

Match Summary:
The Manly Sea Eagles scored a memorable 23-22 win over the Parramatta Eels at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a match befitting of the anniversary of the 1976 decider. The Eels led 16-0 at one stage in the first half, but only led 16-12 at halftime. The match was played in front of only 19,200 spectators.

Brett Delaney scored after just five minutes when a kick bounced wildly, causing headaches for the Manly defence. The score remained 6-0 until the 26th minute when Delaney kicked a penalty goal. Almost off the kickoff the Eels headed back downfield for a spectacular try to Matt Petersen and a 14-0 Eels lead. Delaney put another penalty goal over after 34 minutes, and then the match changed. Brett Stewart scored after 36 minutes, and Chris Hicks won the race to a loose ball right on halftime, for a 16-12 halftime deficit.

Nine minutes into the second half Glenn Morrison dotted down out wide for a 22-12 lead. The Sea Eagles struck back very quickly with a try to Steve Bell. Six minutes later Brent Kite fought his way over the line to level the match a 22-all. Both teams had plenty of scoring chances and errors to capitalise on. Tim Smith missed a field goal in the 74th minute, and four minutes later Matt Orford kicked the winning field goal in a lot of traffic. Tim Smith had a chance to level the match at 23-all, but he put his last minute field goal shot wide right.

Following this result the Sea Eagles continue to fly high, while Brian Smiths last season at Parramatta is starting to look less than memorable.

Scorers:
Manly Sea Eagles: 23
Tries: Chris Hicks, Brent Kite, Brett Stewart, Steve Bell
Goals: Matt Orford 3/4
Field Goals: Matt Orford
Parramatta Eels: 22
Tries: Glenn Morrison, Matthew Petersen, Brett Delaney
Goals: Brett Delaney 5/5

By the Clock:
The Eels have won the toss and have elected to bat.

The match today is being played under grey skies with a very small crowd.

5 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Smith kicks across field, the ball bounces at right angles and Delaney fights his way across the line. He converts the try.
Eels 6-0

10 min: NEWS The Eels put a bomb up and nearly recover, but McKinnon drops the catch at short mid-wicket.

12 min: NEWS The Eels enforce a goal line drop out.

13 min: NEWS Tahu goes very close to scoring, and the Eagles defend the kick superbly.

16 min: NEWS Manly are ruled to have been held up in the ingoal.

18 min: NEWS McKinnon is pushed into touch in a poorly judged kick return.

20 min: NEWS Orford is being dealt with in the blood bin, Glenn Morrison has a head/neck injury - he is leaving the field under his own power.

24 min: NEWS The pitch...the field, not another tired cricket joke...is very hard, and a lot of kicks are bouncing on and on and going dead.

26 min: PENALTY GOAL Parramatta Eels
The Eagles are penalised for markers not being square, they are marched 10 metres and Delaney kicks the penalty goal.
Eels 8-0

28 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Jeremy Smith kicks across field, Petersen flies high and takes a great running catch to score out wide. Delaney converts.
Eels 14-0

29 min: NEWS Glenn Morrison has been given the all clear to return to the field.

32 min: NEWS Watmough knocks on 20 metres out.

34 min: PENALTY GOAL Parramatta Eels
Mark Bryant is penalised for a high tackle on Fui Fui Moi Moi. Delaney kicks the goal.
Eels 16-0

36 min: NEWS Video referee for a Sea Eagles try...

36 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
Some great passing and offloading has Stewart scoring beside the posts. Orford converts.
Eels 16-6

40 min: NEWS Video referee for an Eagles try...

40 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
Menzies puts in a grubber kick, and Hicks fights his way to the ball. Orford converts, and we go to halftime.
Eels 16-12

40 min: NEWS The Eels started very well, but the Sea Eagles have put on two quick tries before halftime.

40 min: NEWS Back underway at the SCG!

49 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
The Eels break out, and it gets followed up with try to Morrison out wide. Delaney converts.
Eels 22-12


52 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
The ball is floated out wide to Bell who cuts the Eels defence and scores out wide. Orford hits the posts and misses.
Eels 22-16

58 min: TRY Manly Sea Eagles
After some sustained pressure, Kite scores with three tacklers hanging off him. Orford converts.
22 all.

62 min: NEWS McKinnon is trapped in the in goal. Manly are going great at the moment.

63 min: NEWS The Eels hold out brilliantly. Burns puts in a dreadful kick which takes the pressure off.

63 min: CROWD - 19,200

65 min: NEWS Tim Smith knocks on as the Eels were putting pressure on Manly.

69 min: NEWS McKinnon makes an error at the back, luckily for the Eels the Sea Eagles throw a forward pass.

70 min: NEWS McKinnon breaks down the right side, Delaney is on the inside who is taken down and loses the ball 10 out.

71 min: NEWS Matai is away, but the pass to him is ruled forward, despite it appearing to go backwards.

73 min: NEWS Menzies takes a great catch right in front of the posts to potentially save a try. Both teams are out on their feet.

74 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Parramatta Eels
Tim Smith attempts a field goal, but it stays way too low.
22 all.

77 min: NEWS Petersen drops a catch on the goal line, he knocked it backwards and then had to hit it dead. Line drop out.

78 min: FIELD GOAL Manly Sea Eagles
Orford knocks the field goal over from right in front, under plenty of pressure!
Sea Eagles 23-22

79 min: NEWS Menzies knocks on right on halfway.

80 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Parramatta Eels
Tim Smith puts the match levelling field goal wide tight.
Sea Eagles 23-22

80 min: NEWS Manly win an absolute thriller with a field goal minutes out from full time!
-----------------------------------------
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Matt Orford
2 - Ben Kennedy
1 - Steve Menzies
-----------------------------------------