Lachy MacCorquodale reviews the round 18 clash between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 5th | Try Matt Doorey (Canterbury Bankstown) | Canterbury 4-0 |
| 11th | Conversion Nick Meaney (Canterbury Bankstown) | Canterbury 6-0 |
| 10th | Penalty Goal Nick Meaney (Canterbury Bankstown) | Canterbury 8-0 |
| 27th | Penalty Goal Nick Meaney (Canterbury Bankstown) | Canterbury 10-0 |
| 30th | Try Taniela Paseka (Manly Warringah) | Canterbury 10-4 |
| 32nd | Conversion Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah) | Canterbury 10-6 |
| 36th | Try Curtis Sironen (Manly Warringah) | 10-all |
| 40th | Try Brad Parker (Manly Warringah) | Manly 14-10 |
| 40th | Conversion Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah) | Manly 16-10 |
| 43rd | Try Jack Gosiewski (Manly Warringah) | Manly 20-10 |
| 45th | Conversion Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah) | Manly 22-10 |
| 50th | Try Lachlan Lewis (Canterbury Bankstown) | Manly 22-14 |
| 51st | Conversion Nick Meaney (Canterbury Bankstown) | Manly 22-16 |
| 52nd | Try Morgan Harper (Manly Warringah) | Manly 26-16 |
| 68th | Try Martin Taupau (Manly Warringah) | Manly 30-16 |
| 69th | Conversion Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah) | Manly 32-16 |
| 74th | Try Jayden Okunbor (Canterbury Bankstown) | Manly 32-20 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
A big clash for both clubs started unexpectedly as the Bulldogs found the try line in just the fifth minute of the match. Jake Averillo produced the magic setting up Matt Doorey for the try, a combination for the future perhaps.
The Bulldogs were handed another opportunity straight after the kick-off as Daly Cherry-Evans sent the kick over the sideline on the full. The Sea Eagles gave a penalty away a few tackles into the set allowing Nick Meaney to have a shot at the posts to extend the lead to eight points.
Seventeen minutes surpassed until the next points were scored, coming in the form of a penalty goal after the ill-disciplined Sea Eagles gave away their seventh penalty of the night.
Manly finally broke their points drought having conceded twenty-four points straight dating back to last week’s loss to the Tigers, as Cherry-Evans nearly made a break down the right side, made his way back to the centre and passed the ball to a charging Taniela Paseka who went straight through the defence to score under the posts.
After surviving multiple sets on their heels albeit the attack that the Bulldogs dished up was quite woeful and the Sea Eagles responded, charging up the field with an offload from Albert Hopoate giving space for Cherry-Evans, who drew Will Hopoate in, and put a grubber past him for Curtis Sironen to run onto, levelling the scores with two minutes remaining in the half.
Just when you thought the points were finished for the half, the Bulldogs gave away two repeat sets gifting the Sea Eagles field position. They made the most of their opportunity as Brad Parker found his way over on the left edge to give his side the lead.
2nd Half
Manly picked up where the left off, starting the second half in perfect fashion.
Cherry-Evans skipped across to the left, passing the ball to back rower Jack Gosiewski who beat his man then stepped inside Will Hopoate to score Manly’s fourth try of the night.
The Bulldogs fired back after a crossfield kick from Jake Averillo was caught by a sprinting Lachlan Lewis who pinched it from Cherry-Evans grasp as he scored his first of the night.
The Sea Eagles responded immediately on the back of a Tevita Funa line break, which allowed Manly to get into decent field position and with the ball shifting right on the next tackle, Morgan Harper shook off a shocking tackle attempt from Lewis as he exploded through a gap in the Bulldogs defence as he ran past Hopoate to score his first try of the night, continuing his great start to his Manly career.
Canterbury’s struggles continued after a grubber kick from Marty Taupau embarrassingly went through the legs of Lewis as he failed to pick the ball up which saw Taupau pick the ball up and ground it.
After long deliberation, Jayden Okunbor was given the green light after a quality catch over his opposing winger in which he just managed the ground the football.
It was a disappointing night for the Bulldogs after leading by ten points early on. Manly have finally beaten their losing streak winning their first match in seven weeks.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
Daly Cherry-Evans took a while to work into his game, but once he got going he was on fire. He sent two kicks out on the full early, including a kick-off but was involved in three tries over the course of the match. His grubber kick for Curtis Sironen was a touch of class from the Queensland halfback. He also broke the line on one occasion.
He has played with a bit of extra freedom this year due to the lack of attacking options around him. It’s seen him play some great footy and show the true extent of his footballing abilities. However, it’s been a poor year for the Sea Eagles who have once again missed Tom Trbojevic, who has ended up missing majority of the season. He has put the Sea Eagles on his back week in, week out and has been rewarded with a win tonight.
SQUADS
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Nick Meaney 3. Reimis Smith 4. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 5. Jayden Okunbor 6. Jake Averillo 7. Lachlan Lewis 15. Renouf To’omaga 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Aiden Tolman 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Matt. Doorey 11. Josh Jackson.ย Interchange: 14. Brandon Wakeham 17. Sauaso Sue 19. Dean Britt 23. Chris Smith.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: 1. Tevita Funa 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Abbas Miski 6. Cade Cust 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 14. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic.ย Interchange: 9. Danny Levi 15. Corey Waddell 16. Sean Keppie 17. Taniela Paseka.
