Sea Eagles defeat Roosters in thriller

THE Manly Sea Eagles have defeated the Sydney Roosters 18-10 in an intense clash at Brookvale Oval in front a 12,633 crowd.

In a match packed with controversy, tensions were running high early with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves landing a bone cruncher on Jason King in the opening seconds.

It was the home side who drew first blood however, with replacement winger Michael Oldfield scoring in the corner in only the fourth minute of the match. Jamie Lyon failed to add the extras keeping the Manly lead at four. 

The Roosters hit back five minutes later through a flying Sam Perrett who scored scored courtesy of an Braith Anasta chip bomb. Anasta missed the conversion to keep the scores. 

The Roosters claimed the lead in the 31st minute through Daniel Mortimer before the Sea Eagles leveled the scores shortly before half-time. 

The Sea Eagles were over for an early try only four minutes following the break, with Daniel Harrisson slicing right through the Rooster's defence for an easy try under the posts. 

Video referee Pat Reynolds denied both sides a try within six minutes of each other. The Sea Eagles were knocked back first, with Reynolds denying the Sea Eagles in the 52nd minute after finding a knock-on from Steve Matai. Reynolds next decision was to be far more controversial, Mortimer was denied his second try in the 58th minute, with Reynolds penalising him for lifting the elbow in the tackle. 

In the final 20 minutes of play both sides were given opportunities to put some more points on the board, however with Keiran Foran taken out of the play early with and ankle injury and Mitchell Pearce on Origin duties both sides struggled to capitalise on their opportunities.

The Sea Eagles decided to take no chanced when they were awarded a penalty right in front with eight minutes to go. Lyon kicked the two to extend the lead to eight. 

The Roosters were given their fair share of opportunities to hit back, but, poor last tackle options and several unforced errors helped the Sea Eagles hang on to win by eight points. 

The Sea Eagles will be off to Penrith next weekend to take on the Panthers at Centrebet Stadium while the Roosters will be hosting the Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium. 

Match Details
Manly Sea Eagles 18 defeated Sydney Roosters 10
National Rugby League - Round 11 - Sunday May 20, 2012 2:00pm
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Referee: Ashley Klein and Jared Maxwell
Video Referee: Pat Reynolds
Touch Judges: Steve Carrall and Dave Ryan
Crowd: 12,633
Halftime: Manly Sea Eagles 10 Sydney Roosters 10

Leagueunlimited.com Player of the Year Points:
3 Points - Daly Cherry-Evans
2 Points - Daniel Mortimer (1 try)
1 Point - Joseph Leilua

MANLY SEA EAGLES (18)
Tries: Steve Matai, Michael Oldfield, Daniel Harrison
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Jamie Lyon (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (10)
Tries: Sam Perrett, Daniel Mortimer
Conversions: Braith Anasta (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Afternoon folks and welcome to Brookvale Oval where the Manly Sea Eagles take on the Sydney Roosters.
Both sides have announced a significant late change, for the home side, David Williams is out and will be replaced by Michael Oldfield. For the the Roosters Shaun Kenny-Dowall is out, Adam Moga moves to the centres with Peni Taigive coming into the side.
The Roosters U20s have taken out the Toyota Cup match with a 28-26 victory.
1 min: Braith Anasta gets us under way at Brookvale.
3 min: The Sea Eagles get a penalty on half way.
5 min: TRY
TRY! The Sea Eagles spread it out wide after a quick play the ball and Michael Oldfield scores in the corner. Jamie Lyon fails to convert from the sideline.
Manly Sea Eagles 4-0
6 min: Manly receive a peanlty 40 out from their own line.
8 min: Daly Cherry-Evans knocks on only a few metres out from the Roosters' line.
9 min: Roosters get a tackle count restart 30 out from the Manly tryline after they run it on the last and a Sea Eagles' player plays at the ball.
11 min: TRY
TRY! Anasta puts up a little chip kick and Sam Perrett scores in the corner. Anasta misses the conversion.
4 all
17 min: Roosters will get a scrum on halfway after a Manly lost ball.
18 min: Roosters get a penalty 30 out from the Sea Eagles' line.
19 min: Roosters receive another penalty 10 out.
20 min: Roosters receive a penalty late in the set and will get six-again.
21 min: Boyd Cordner loses the ball over the try line.
23 min: The Sea Eagles receive a penalty 35 out from their own line.
29 min: Roosters receive a penalty on halfway, but Anasta fails to find touch.
29 min: Daniel Harrison knocks on 40 out from his own line.
32 min: TRY
TRY! BJ Leilua finds some space and offloads to Anasta who finds a charging Daniel Mortimer who scores under the posts. Anasta adds the extras.
Sydney Roosters 10-4
34 min: Manly receive a penalty 35 out from their own line and will start their set on halfway.
35 min: Anothony Minichiello cleans up a Cherry-Evans grubber a metre out from his own line.
36 min: Darcy Lussick is penalised for shoulder charging Mortimer as he goes for a kick on the last.
37 min: Mortimer goes for a cross-field kick on the the third and it goes dead.
40 min: TRY
TRY! Steve Matai scores in the corner courtesy of a well-weighted grubber from Liam Foran. Lyon's conversion attempt is successful.
Sydney Roosters 10-10
40 min: The half-time hooter sounds before Anasta is able to set up for the kick off and that's the half.
41 min: The second half is underway.
43 min: The Sea Eagles will get a line dropout after Minichiello is forced to bat a Liam Foran kick dead.
45 min: TRY
TRY! Daniel Harrisson slices right through the Roosters' defence and opens up the scoring in the second half. Lyon's conversion attempt is successful.
Manly Sea Eagles 16-10
46 min: Mnichiello loses the ball 20 out from his own line.
47 min: Roosters will get a scrum feed 30 out from their own line after Manly lose the ball.
52 min: Possible try to the Sea Eagles here.
52 min: No try! The Sea Eagles made 60 metres in their set and the Sea Eagles looked like they might have a try, but Matai is pinned for knocking on the ball in the lead up.
53 min: Roosters receive a penalty 20 out from their own line.
54 min: Anasta goes to the air on the last and BJ Leilua knocks it into a Manly player.
55 min: Roosters receive a penalty 10 out from their own line.
56 min: Taigive is caught with the ball on the last and the Sea Eagles are off the hook.
58 min: Roosters on the attack after a break from Cordner.
58 min: Mortimer might have his double here.
58 min: No Try! Mortimer is ruled to have elbowed a Manly defender.
60 min: Sea Eagles force a line drop out.
61 min: Matt Ballin is pinned for a forward pass a few metres out from the Roosters' line.
64 min: Roosters get a tackle count restart 20 out from the Sea Eagles' line.
65 min: Minichiello loses the ball a few metres out from the Sea Eagles' line.
66 min: The Sea Eagles receive a penalty.
66 min: Lussick loses the ball 40 out from the Roosters' line.
71 min: Manly get a tackle count restart 20 metres out from the Roosters' line.
72 min: PENALTY GOAL
JWH is penalised for trying to slow down the play-the-ball and Manly decide to go for the two.
Manly Sea Eagles 18-10
73 min: Anasta goes for the short kick off and the Roosters have the ball.
74 min: King intercepts the ball a few metres out from his own line and makes it to half way before being tackled.
75 min: Roosters are penalised on halfway.
76 min: The Sea Eagles receive another penalty on halfway.
77 min: Possible try to George Rose here.
77 min: No Try! George Rose loses the ball a few metres out from the try line.
80 min: Mortimer is tackled with the ball 10 metres out from his own line on the last and that's the game, Manly hold on to win 18-10.