Jack Harbidge reviews the Saturday evening clash between Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks…
MATCHDAY RESULTS
SCOREBOARD
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6
Tries: Daly Cherry-Evans (76)
Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (77)
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 40
Tries: Nicholas Hynes 2 (6, 52), Royce Hunt (15), Matt Moylan (28), Matt Ikuvalu 2 (38, 71), Briton Nikora (55)
Goals: Nicholas Hynes 6 (7, 16, 29, 54, 56, 72)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite seeking to maintain control of their mission for top four with an away trip at Brookvale Oval. The visitors certainly came out with the correct intent, crossing just seven minutes in with Nicho Hynes finishing a Matt Moylan chip under the sticks.
He was soon followed over the try line from short range just under ten minutes later, when Royce Hunt muscled his way over from ten metres out with a one out carry off the ruck and beat three tacklers in the process.
Despite the Sea Eagles efforts, the one-way traffic didn’t stop and Matt Moylan went dotted down a certain try to the left of the sticks in front of Gerard Sutton, only for the referee to send it up to the bunker for an embarrassing review that confirmed the obvious. With another conversion added following the try, the Sharks led 18-0 with half an hour played.
Unfortunately for Manly, back-to-back errors gifted more opportunities for the Sharks to extend their lead at the back end of the half and Matt Ikuvalu duly obliged, crossing on the right wing after a left to right shape that started in midfield created a big overlap.
The second half started somewhat better for the home side, who came out of the sheds with a far more concerted effort for the opening exchanges of the half. Manly, however, couldn’t convert the extra effort into points and it was Cronulla who got on the scoreboard first in the second period with Nicho Hynes adding to his try involvements with another four pointer of his own 54 minutes in.
Cronulla scored off the following set after Manly’s kick off, making 76m on the set with Briton Nikora pouncing on a batted back bomb at the end of the set to go over under the sticks. The Sharks went close again soon after, only for Ronaldo Mulitalo to make an error close to the line and then be denied by some great defence just minutes following that.
They did extend their lead eventually though and after Ramien muffed a near certain try, Matt Ikuvalu crossed down the right edge again after making the most of Alfred Smalley fumbling a grubber put into the in-goal area by Lachlan Miller.
Manly had their chances too and produced an increasing amount of scoring opportunities as the game went on, eventually culminating in Manly avoiding getting held to zero points. The home side left it late though and it took all the toe of Manly’s captain Daly Cherry-Evans for him to convert an interception in midfield and get on the scoreboard for the first time in the 77th minute.
Following the try, Manly laid another assault on the Cronulla line, but the attack came to nothing with Lachlan Croker knocking on soon after the tap and Cronulla took home the two points with an imposing 40-6 win.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Nicho Hynes (Sharks), 2 pts – Matt Ikuvalu (Sharks), 1 pt – Matt Moylan (Sharks)
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