DCE shines as Sea Eagles down Titans

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Gold Coast Titans v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

The Manly Sea Eagles have continued their perfect record on the road, running in a commanding 30-10 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium tonight in front of 12509 fans.

A classy performance from man of the match Daly Cherry-Evans kicked into gear when he orchestrated the first try of the evening in the 14th minute. The Maroons hopeful sent a cut-out pass onto the chest of flying Fijian winger Akuila Uate ten short of halfway, who raced down the right flank before showing some fancy footwork and a clean pair of heels to leave former Newcastle teammate Tyrone Roberts clutching at thin air on his way to the line.

The Sea Eagles, through new goal-kicker Matthew Wright converted the opener handing the visitors a 6-0 lead.

The game seemed to turn momentum from the restart when a loose pass ended up in the obliging hands of Titans half Ash Taylor who raced twenty metres down the right touchline before a diving finish saw his team immediately back in the contest. 

Taylor proceeded to nail the sideline conversion of his own try leveling the scores at six apiece inside the opening twenty.

It wouldn't be long before the visitors regained the ascendancy though when Cherry-Evans showed his class again. Attacking just inside the Titans half, the Sea Eagles halfback showed a great presence of mind to step inside a Titans defender before using his vision to send a long looping pass over the top which found Uate in the clear again. The Sea Eagles winger again used his footwork to keep Roberts guessing at the back before drawing and passing for centre Dylan Walker who crossed untouched.

Wright converted the extras again to hand his team a six point lead in the 21st minute.

A penalty against the Titans from the ensuing set of six saw Manly on the attack again and following a big charge from enforcer Martin Taupau, their dynamic dummy half Api Koroisau jumped out of acting half before stepping off his left and reaching out to plant the ball down in the 25th minute to give his team an eventual 18-6 half-time lead.

The start of the second stanza continued on in much the same manner as the first when work-horse lock forward Jake Trbojevic took advantage of a strong charge and right-hand offload from fellow back-rower Curtis Sironen to crash over next to the posts in the 46th minute.

Wright continued what proved a perfect night with the boot giving his team a commanding 24-6 lead.

In typical Gold Coast fashion, the home team wouldn't go away and gave their loyal supporters a glimmer of hope when Taylor laid on a classy grubber kick for wing-man Anthony Don to score in the 57th minute.

A costly conversion miss from Taylor meant the deficit was still fourteen and it was as close as the home team would get.

A late try to Walker hitting a face-ball from Cherry-Evans at pace close to the line saw the Sea Eagles put the icing on the cake in the 74th minute.

The win may have come at a cost for the visitors with Walker showing some real toughness to play on after a knee injury and still have an impact on the game. Nate Myles is also a concern after not returning to the field following the halftime break.

Both teams will enjoy the bye next week before, resuming their campaigns in Round 13. The Titans will head North to face the Cowboys at 1300Smiles Stadium in a Saturday night fixture whilst the Sea Eagles will play hosts to the Raiders at Lottoland on the Sunday afternoon.