Sea Eagles swoop on wounded Warriors

A tough and determined Manly Sea Eagles have tonight defeated the visiting Vodafone Warriors in front of a small and vocal crowd at a soggy Brookvale Oval by 20-10.

A tough slog for the two sides from the start of the match until the end, meant defence would be paramount, and the Manly side certainly capitalized on this the best.
And for the first 20 minutes of the match, the match was there for either side.

The visitors were first to break the line 23 minutes into the match, only for Manly to hit straight back at them with 3 consecutive tries and countless offloads to have a handy lead at halftime by 14-4.

Rain steadily falling in the 2nd half meant the going would be very tough for the both sides. 15 minutes into the half, the home side stretched their lead out to 20-4 and looked very dangerous on attack, highly likely to add to the scoreline.

The Warriors tiring defence managed to hold them out, and finished with a late try to bring to the scoreline just that bit closer, finishing up at 20-10.

More bad news for the Warriors on the injury front with centre Shaun Berrigan leaving the field with a suspected broken hand. Jason King and Joe Galuvao also left the field injured and did not return for the Manly side.

Match Details
Manly Sea Eagles 20 defeated New Zealand Warriors 10
National Rugby League - Round 6 - Saturday April 16, 2011 5:30pm
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Referee: Tony Archer and Brett Suttor
Video Referee: Chris Ward
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Jason Walsh
Crowd: 0
Halftime: Manly Sea Eagles 14 New Zealand Warriors 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - William Hopoate
2 Points - George Rose
1 Point - Glenn Stewart

Manly Sea Eagles (20)
Tries: Joe Galuvao, Michael Robertson, Jamie Buhrer, Michael Oldfield
Conversions: Daly Cherry-Evans (2/4)

New Zealand Warriors (10)
Tries: Lewis Brown, Elijah Taylor
Conversions: James Maloney (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary A few changes forced on both sides with injuries. Packer replaces Lillyman and Latimore into the starting line up for the Warriors, Sione Lousi and Alehana Mara move to the bench with Ta'ia injured. Brett Stewart out, replaced by Hopoate. Robinson and Oldfield on the wings for the Sea Eagles.
Michael Luck celebrates his 200th NRL match tonight. Brent Kite celebrates his 150th game. Conditions are wet and slippery at Brookvale Oval.
1 min: Sea Eagles get the match underway.
2 min: Warriors make a sweet 100 metres in their first set with a nice kick by Maloney on the 5th tackle.
3 min: First penalty goes the home side's way giving them cheap metres up the field.
4 min: LINE DROPOUT - Sea Eagles. A nice 5th tackle grubber forces the Warriors to do another set on defence.
6 min: Watmough trips over chasing the grubber kick to the in goal and complains bitterly he was taken out. The refs want no bar of it, and nor does the replay.
7 min: Warriors close to scoring, the Maloney kick just a little too strong for the chasers.
13 min: Inu tackled in the air under a high ball in goal, Warriors rewarded with a relieving penalty. A real slog going on by both sides.
14 min: Penalty count 3-2 in the Warriors favour.
15 min: The Sea Eagles looking good on attack, the Warriors scrambling defence just managing to hold them out.
18 min: Robertson held up on the 4th tackle, the Warriors once again holding on in defence by the skin of their teeth.
22 min: Handover to the Warriors 30 metres from their line gives them their best attacking opportunity of the match.
23 min: TRY
A solid set by the visitors with Brown darting from dummy half to score close to the line. Maloney's conversion hits the post and misses.
New Zealand Warriors 4-0
25 min: LINE DROPOUT - Sea Eagles. Nice pressured set gives the home side another chance at the line.
28 min: TRY
Cherry-Evans with a nice grubber to his winger on the 5th tackle, sets up a great try.
Manly Sea Eagles 6-4
30 min: Inu's kick off goes dead in goal. Penalty on halfway to Manly.
31 min: TRY
Back to back sets, back to back tries to the Sea Eagles with the defence caught way out of position.
Manly Sea Eagles 10-4
35 min: Video ref checking for a possible try to Manly.
35 min: NO TRY - Knock on by Ballin. Penalty to Manly for the marker not square, right on their line.
37 min: TRY
Not long on the field and Buhrer burst through some soft defence to score.
Manly Sea Eagles 14-4
40 min: A long range field goal attempt by Cherry-Evans finishes off the half.
40 min: Halftime: A tough battle in wet field conditions, the Manly side certainly having the upperhand in the latter part of the half. They lead 14-4 at the break.
41 min: Inu gets the 2nd half underway.
43 min: A good burst by the Warriors forwards, Mateo loses the ball in the tackle helped by Watmough.
44 min: Back to back penalties once again for the Sea Eagles who are now hot on attack.
47 min: The Warriors close to scoring after 2 very good sets. Maloney's kick just a little too deep.
49 min: Rain falling quite heavily now.
51 min: LINE DROPOUT - Sea Eagles. Glen Stewart heavily involved in 2 sets. The Warriors defence hanging on by a thread.
55 min: TRY
The Warriors defence very poor on this set allowing the metres to be gained at will. A nice team try finished off by Galuvao.
Manly Sea Eagles 20-4
56 min: 7-4 Manly lead the penalty count, killing the Warriors chances.
58 min: NO TRY - Manly. A forward pass stopping a certain try to Watmough.
58 min: Galuvao limps off the field.
61 min: Berrigan leaves the field with what looks like an arm or wrist injury.
63 min: The Warriors right on the line determined to get their man Lousi down, however the defence of the Sea Eagles stands strong and stops any scoring chance.
65 min: Glen Stewart down and injured, coping an accidental knee from Matulino. Gets up to the cheering of the small but vocal crowd. King slightly concussed in the first half, unlikely to return to this match.
69 min: Video ref checking the grounding on a try by Inu, very close to the sideline.
69 min: NO TRY - Warriors. The defence of Manly once again saves more points.
72 min: More bad news for the Warriors injury toll with Berrigan nursing a broken hand.
74 min: A break by Maloney just can't be finished off by the Warriors as the winning defence by the home side shuts them down.
77 min: TRY
Persistence pays off for the visitors as they finally cross the line sliding thru the determined Manly defence. A great offload by Mateo finds Taylor.
Manly Sea Eagles 20-10
80 min: Final say goes to Manly following a Warriors mistake 30 metres out from the Manly line. The whistle goes for fulltime as the ball rolls over the sideline.