Sea Eagles fly past Dragons

A dominant Manly Sea Eagles outfit has handed the St George Illawarra Dragons their second defeat of the season, running out 24-6 victors in front of 16,745 people at Brookvale Oval.

Manly took the lead early on through a Tony Williams try in the 9th minute and didn't look back from there, scoring another three.

Williams crossed the line two more times, including a brilliant try which resulted from a determined Jamie Lyon who chased down a wayward grubber, batting it back for Williams to plant it down for his hat-trick.

The Dragons grabbed one try just before halftime through Trent Merrin, but never really looked in the game as Manly proved to be far too good in both attack and defence.

The Sea Eagles will be concerned about a hamstring injury to five-eighth, Kieran Foran, as they look to continue their charge up the ladder.

Match Details
Manly Sea Eagles 24 defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 6
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 9 - Saturday May 8, 2010 7:30pm
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Referee: Shayne Hayne and Gavin Badger
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Steve Chiddy and Jeff Younis
Crowd: 16,745
Halftime: Manly Sea Eagles 10 St George Illawarra Dragons 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Trent Hodkinson
2 Points - Jamie Lyon
1 Point - Tony Williams

MANLY SEA EAGLES (24)
Tries: Tony Williams (3), Ben Farrar
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Jamie Lyon (1/1)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (6)
Tries: Trent Merrin
Conversions: Jamie Soward (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome from Brookvale Oval for tonight's match between the Sea Eagles and the Dragons. In team news, Michael Weyman and Jason Nightingale have failed to back up from last night's test match. Michael Lett comes into the side for Nightingale, whilst Jon Green will start in place of Weyman, with Michael Greenfield coming onto the bench. The Manly side is unchanged, with all of their representative players backing up.
Teams coming out onto the field now, we're almost ready to go!
1 min: Sea Eagles kick off, we're underway.
1 min: A solid first set from the Dragons, finished with a well placed kick from Ben Hornby.
3 min: Cracking run from Neville Costigan early on, breaking through a few tackles to make about 20 metres.
4 min: A massive bomb from Kieran Foran has the Dragons in all sorts, before Darius Boyd safely sweeps up at the back.
6 min: Foran goes high again on the last tackle, but Michael Lett does well and takes the catch safely.
8 min: Manly are the dominant side at the moment, making some good metres. The Dragons are doing well to absorb the pressure.
9 min: TRY
Manly go through the hands on the last tackle and reap the benefits, with Tony Williams crossing in the corner. Jamie Lyon's conversion attempt from the sideline is unsuccessful.
Manly Sea Eagles 4-0
14 min: The Dragons are really struggling to make metres at the moment, with the Manly defence uncompromising.
15 min: Poor option from the Dragons on the last tackle, failing to kick, allowing Manly some decent field position.
18 min: TRY
Tony Williams grabs his second try, almost identical to the first. Manly go through the hands again and are far too quick for the Dragons defence. Williams has an easy stroll over the line to score. Lyon successfully converts.
Manly Sea Eagles 10-0
20 min: Dragons get their first penalty of the night courtesy of Glenn Stewart.
21 min: Promising attack from the Dragons, before Brett Morris knocks on with open space in front of him.
23 min: Manly are dominating at the moment, with the Dragons defence doing well to hold them out.
23 min: Pressure relieving penalty to the Dragons helps them out of their half, and they're now on the attack 40m out from the Manly line.
25 min: Dragons give away a soft penalty, allowing Manly a free ride out of their own half.
26 min: Fantastic defending on the line from the Dragons holds out the Manly attack once again.
28 min: Glenn Stewart gives away another penalty. Dragons have a great chance to score here, on the attack 30m out.
29 min: Another penalty to the Dragons, pressure is building on the Manly defence.
30 min: Matt Cooper held up over the line after an excellent kick from Jamie Soward. Manly touched it though, so the Dragons have another set of six.
31 min: Possible try here for the Dragons, video referee is looking at it.
32 min: TRY
Anthony Watmough knocks the ball from Luke Priddis' hands, with Trent Merrin cleaning up the scraps and crossing beside the posts. Soward easily converts.
Manly Sea Eagles 10-6
35 min: The Dragons are gradually working their way back into the game, with that try to Merrin providing a great boost.
37 min: Soward tries some magic, kicking for Morris from within the Dragons half, but the ball runs over the sideline and hands Manly a good opportunity to do something.
39 min: An excellent chip from Jamie Soward nearly results in a Dragons try, with Darius Boyd unlucky to knock on trying to gather the ball.
40 min: Knock on from the Dragons right before halftime, Manly very quickly pack the scrum. 15 seconds till the siren.
40 min: It's halftime here at Brookvale Oval. The Sea Eagles have been the dominant team so far, but the Dragons have done very well in defence to keep themselves in the game.
41 min: Second half is underway!
41 min: Early turnover from Manly. Dragons on the attack 10m out.
42 min: Some quality Manly defence and poor execution from the Dragons results in a change over on the last tackle.
43 min: Kieran Foran has a hamstring injury and will not be returning. Glenn Stewart is expected to shift into the halves.
44 min: Trent Hodkinson is now down with an injury as well, does not look promising for the Sea Eagles.
44 min: Time off now, allowing Hodkinson to receive treatment. He looks ok, just copped a hit down under.
45 min: Glenn Stewart gives away yet another penalty. The Dragons have an excellent opportunity here to score some points, but Darius Boyd has just dropped it cold.
46 min: Now the Sea Eagles have landed a penalty, giving them a chance to score some points. They take the tap 20m out.
46 min: Potential try to Ben Farrar here, video referee will be checking for obstruction.
48 min: TRY
Ben Farrar fashions himself a chance with some fleeting footwork and darts over the line to score Manly's third try of the night. Lyon has no trouble converting.
Manly Sea Eagles 16-6
51 min: The Dragons are on the backfoot, with the Sea Eagles making some very easy metres.
54 min: A late hit on Trent Hodkinson results in a penalty for Manly. They are on the attack 35m out from the Dragons' line.
55 min: Could be a try here to Manly, looks dubious though. Video referee is examining it.
56 min: TRY
Miraculous try here to the Sea Eagles. Hodkinson grubbers though, the ball looks to be going dead before Jamie Lyon bats it back for Tony Williams who easily grounds it, landing his hat-trick. Lyon does well to convert.
Manly Sea Eagles 22-6
57 min: Knock on from the Sea Eagles has the Dragons on the attack 30m out.
58 min: Possible try to the Dragons, Cooper looks like he's been held up though. Video referee is checking it.
58 min: No try. Manly do extremely well to stop Cooper from grounding the ball.
59 min: Hodkinson puts up a swirling bomb from halfway which Boyd does very well to take.
62 min: Manly knock the ball into touch off a Jamie Soward pass, handing the Dragons a scrum feed 40m out from the Manly line.
64 min: Knock on from Ben Creagh and Manly have a scrum feed on halfway.
66 min: Manly knock on through Watmough 10m out from the Dragons line. The error count is increasing as both teams start to tire.
67 min: A brilliant tackle from Michael Roberston takes Michael Lett across the sideline just as he was looking to pin his ears back.
68 min: Line dropout for the Dragons here after they let a Manly bomb bounce, with Darius Boyd knocking it dead.
69 min: Lyon knocks on just as Manly were starting to look dangerous.
70 min: Penalty to the Dragons after a high tackle on Jamie Soward from Jason King. Dragons kick for touch and take the tap 30m out from the Manly line.
71 min: Dragons think they've scored after a massive cutout pass from Jamie Soward, but it's called back for being forward.
73 min: Hodkinson kicks out on the full on Manly's last, giving the Dragons the changeover on halfway.
75 min: Darius Boyd is tackled in-goal resulting in a line dropout.
78 min: Another line dropout here for the Dragons after Michael Lett is wrapped up in-goal.
79 min: Penalty to the Sea Eagles 10m out from the Dragons line. Manly are taking the shot at goal.
80 min: PENALTY GOAL
Lyon successfully pots the penalty goal.
Manly Sea Eagles 24-6
80 min: It's full time here at Brookvale Oval, Manly are deserved winners.