Dragons hang on to beat Sea Eagles in thriller
Let’s wrap things up here
OK, I think that’ll do us this fine evening.
It’s a very big long weekend, so we don’t want to eat all our chocolates at once.
We’ll be back tomorrow for all the action on Good Friday and the Bulldogs and the Bunnies play out their traditional clash in front of what is expected to an enormous crowd at the Olympic stadium in Sydney.
Then, we’ll head up to the Olympic city as the Dolphins take on the Storm later on.
Looking forward to bringing you all the action as it happens from those matches.
Happy Easter.
‘Pass-happy’ Sea Eagles their own worst enemy
Here’s Reuben Garrick now, speaking to ABC Sport.
He says the Sea Eagles just couldn’t hold onto the ball.
“Probably a bit pass happy there at the start, trying to do too much,” he says.
“Definitely a lot to learn. We bounced back at the end and it would’ve been nice to jag it late.
“Wasn’t to be.”
Win gives the Dragons ‘a lot of belief’
Damian Cook has been speaking to ABC Sport.
He said it was always going to be a tough match at Brookvale, but with two wins on the bounce, the Dragons are starting to get a bit of momentum.
“It was a tense one. They’re always hard to play here in Brookvale,” he says.
“Good to back it up after last week. That gives us a lot of belief.”
Was a much more entertaining second half, in fairness
Thanks for the blog Simon, the 2nd half was better than the first but not better enough for Manly – see you next time.
– Mike
FT: Dragons hang on to beat Manly 20-18
The Dragons have hung on!
Goodness me, a dramatic second half, but the Sea Eagles errors came back to haunt them too much.
A very even contest, the Sea Eagles had 51 per cent possession, completed 31 of 41 compared to 34 of 45 by the Dragons.
The Dragons did, according to NRL.com, make more errors, 13-10.
But eight penalties came at really crucial times for the Sea Eagles and they’re in a bit of a hole now.
Reaction to come.
79′ Manly wins the ball at the scrum, but it’s a penalty!
Haumole
Olakau’atu
wins the ball off
Jacob Liddle, but was there high contact?
There was!
And it means Olakau’atu is on report too.
79′ Manly knocks on!
That’s a disaster for the Sea Eagles.
They look to move the ball up field methodically and Luke Brooks knocks on.
78′ Cherry Evans misses with the two-point field goal!
He wasn’t far away there!
A great attempt from Daly Cherry Evans from all of 45 metres out.
He had the distance relatively comfortably, but just missed out when it came to direction.
73′ Saab intercepts with the Dragons challenging
That’s a great piece of play from Saab.
As Gutherson passed the ball to the left side, he leaped out the line and tapped the ball up to himself to gather.
He couldn’t get away from the swarming Dragons though and can’t make a length of the field score like Sloan did earlier.
72′ LUKE BROOKS SCORES! BUT IT’S RULED OUT!
OR DOES HE?
No try is the call as it’s sent upstairs.
Luke Brooks kicks the ball high – the ball is allowed to bounce and he kicks it on to his own advantage, gathers and scores.
Brookvale explodes!
But referee Gough says no try and it’s because Trbojevic is ahead of the kicker and then interferes with the defenders.
A very good call from the referee to see in real time.
67′ SAAB SCORES A CRACKER!
Daly Cherry Evans is perfect with the kick, a beautiful deft dab over the top on the run.
Saab is there on the wing, he leaps up over the top of replacement Sione Finau, and dots down.
He looked a bit uncomfortable as he landed, legs akimbo and sprawled on the turf, but he stayed in play and scored the try.
The kick will be right from the sideline – and he misses it!
It’s 20-18 to the Dragons!
65′ Cherry Evans denies Sloan!
That’s superb from Daly Cherry Evans!
Tyrell Sloan broke free down the right, chipped ahead towards the post, DCE is back there, uses his legs to guide the ball away from the Dragons chasers and then picks up and runs 20 metres the other way.
Brilliant from the veteran.
61′ Luke Brooks on report
He gave Lachlan Ilias a whack around the chops and is on report as a result.
Not a huge amount in it, to be honest.
61′ Jacob Liddle crashes over!
Just as time on the sin bin runs out the Dragons make the most of their advantage!
It was a short, crash ball from Flanagan that sends Liddle over the top.
The kicks is good and the score is 20-14 to the Dragons!
57′ Manly levels the scores while down to 12!
That is superb from the 12-men of Manly!
Daly Cherry Evans holds the ball just long enough to disrupt the line, passes to Brooks who releases, Hopoate who, with a wonderful burst of pace, breaks past Ilias!
In the back play, Ben Trbojevic was giving his support and is sent over to score untouched.
The kick is good and the scores are level at 14-14!
I’ll make a request
Any chance of a confused reaction symbol Simon? Some of the refereeing decisions are baffling tonight.
– KB
I would consider myself mostly puzzled.
But that’s pretty standard state of being.
54′ Penalty Sea Eagles!
And now the Dragons are offside.
Trailing by eight, the Sea Eagles are going to go for points, taking time off the clock and points off their deficit.
The kick is good and the score is now 14-8.
54′ Error from the Dragons!
That’s a huge response from the Sea Eagles!
Val Holmes has powered into the line, was met by three defenders and he tries to offload to Flanagan.
Given the ball, Flanagan is monstered by Jazz Tevaga and loses the ball!
Manly are up and about!
53′ Toafofoa Sipley sent to the sin bin
Oh this looks nasty for
Mathew Feagai.
Feagai is crunched and down and in a lot of pain.
He was tackled by Siosiua Taukeiaho, and then slammed by Toafofoa
Sipley.
The bunker says that it’s a hip drop.
And Toafofoa Sipley has been sent to the sin bin, and is on report.
The crowd hates that call.
50′ Manly score a brilliant try!
Oh how the Sea Eagles needed that!
From half way, finally a move through the hands works.
A lovely pass from Hopoate over the top to the left wing where Tommy Talau gains possession with acres of open pasture in front of him.
He races into that space, looks left and passes back inside to Tolutau Koula, copping a late shot from Clint Gutherson for his troubles.
But Koula scores untouched and, with the Garrick kick a good one, the score is now 14-6.
Game on?
