Matabele
Journey Man
Manly swoop for trans Tasman victory:
13 March 2005
Manly flyer Scott Donald crossed for a double and a rejuvenated defensive line has held firm as the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have gathered up a victory across the Tasman for the second year in a row.
In a scrappy, mistake riddled game the Sea Eagles showed that their new recruits have put a new steel into their defence by smashing their more fancied opponents to record a famous 26-20 victory.
The Warriors departed from the field bloodied and bruised with head bandages and blood stained jerseys a testament to the fury of Manly over the full eighty minutes. Many had expected that it would be Manly that would be pulverised under a b;ack avalanche but Manly had the better of exchanges for much of the match and showed that their forward pack will be a feared unit this year.
The sides had barely settled down when Manly were controversially denied the opportunity of a try after Donald crossed the line. The referee declined the opportunity to go to the video referee, ruling that Brent Kite had lost the ball in a tackle. However replays suggested that it was a Warriors player that had stripped the ball.
The two sides then exchanged blows (sometimes literally) for the next twenty five minutes. Terry Hill was engaged in a running battle with the equally hot tempered Clinton Toopi and was put on report for a hit on his opposite in the 16th minute.
Shane Dunley conceded an unnecessary penalty in the 25th minute to allow the Warriors to open the scoring. Minutes later Kylie Leuluai had the crowd baying for blood after a smashing hit on Warriors captain Steven Price.
In the 29th minute Monaghan put through a clever chip kick close to the Warriors line. The ball was knocked back into his arms by Kiwi five eighth Lance Hohaia and Monaghan had the simple task of passing to Steve Menzies on the inside to allow the game’s greatest try-scoring forward a saloon passage to his 149th career try. Witt converted to put Manly ahead 6-2.
Other highlights in a mistake riddled first half were two 40/20 kicks from the Manly side showing that much practice has gone into this aspect of their over the off season. Des Hasler would also have been incredibly pleased with his side’s defence, the defensively challenged Sea Eagles side only missing 5 tackles in the entire first half.
However, he would have gained most pleasure from a 40th minute try just before the sides left for oranges. The Warriors were wilting late in the half and Manly capitalised. Monaghan saw a gap, dummied before the line and shimmied his way through. He was caught by the defence but played the ball quickly to allow Anthony Watmough to burrow over the line for a four pointer. Witt converted to give Manly a 12-2 lead at the break.
The game opened up early in the second half as both sides began to throw the ball around looking for an advantage. A Nathan Fien bomb bounced dangerously in the in-goal area before Brett Stewart cleaned up. This lead to a sustained period of attack on the Manly line. Manly defended well but were prised open when a kick through was fumbled allowing Henderson to regather and stagger towards the try line in the 47th minute. The try was converted.
Manly hit back quickly. Kite steamed towards the try-line to lay the platform before Monaghan spread the ball wide to the timeless duo of Hill and Hopoate. Hill beautifully drew his man before putting Hopoate into space for a try wide out on the right. Witt was unable to convert and with half an hour to go Manly led the match 16-8.
A stupid mistake in a play the ball by the ubiquitous Anthony Watmough (not the first time a brain explosion from that source has threatened to turn a game) allowed the Warriors to pressure the line. Jones put a kick through which was gathered by Stewart. There was a hint that Stewart was robbed of possession but the video referee saw it differently and awarded the try in the 53rd minute. Jones converted to make it a two point ball game.
The see sawing continued in the 57th minute as Manly’s forwards bashed the ball up towards the Warriors line before Michael Monaghan launched a towering bomb to the left had side for Donald Duck to swoop high, gather and plunge over for the try. Witt missed the conversion but Manly were ahead by the margin of a converted try.
Hill was placed on report again for a high tackle in the 71st minute. In the 75th minute Donald streaked 80 metres after the Warriors had bombed the Manly line and the ball had spilt free. Watmough picked up the ball and fed it to Donald who was never in doubt. The decision was referred to the video referee who controversially ruled that the ball had come off a Warriors player meaning that Watmough was not in an off side position when he fielded the ball. Michael Witt converted to create a 12 point lead.
Toopi crossed for a late consolation try but Manly had done enough to hang on for a strong 26-20 victory. There seemed to be few injury concerns for the Sea Eagles with most players walking off at the end of the match with smiles on their faces. They may need an ice pack or two but without information filtering from the sheds it looks as though they’ve all made it through safely and will be set to do battle with the Sharks next week.
Of more concern to Manly supporters will be Terry Hill twice on report and a high shot from Kylie Leuluai that is sure to attract attention. Fingers will be crossed that Hill will escape the week unscathed as he was intimidating and impregnable in defence and will be sorely needed to line up against the quicksilver Nigel Vagana next weekend.
On a personal note I’m very glad to be proven to be horribly wrong.
Vital statistics:
Completion rate: 64%
Errors: 14
Missed tackles: 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matabele’s Best and Fairest points:
3: Terry Hill
2: Michael Monaghan
1: Michael Witt
13 March 2005
Manly flyer Scott Donald crossed for a double and a rejuvenated defensive line has held firm as the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have gathered up a victory across the Tasman for the second year in a row.
In a scrappy, mistake riddled game the Sea Eagles showed that their new recruits have put a new steel into their defence by smashing their more fancied opponents to record a famous 26-20 victory.
The Warriors departed from the field bloodied and bruised with head bandages and blood stained jerseys a testament to the fury of Manly over the full eighty minutes. Many had expected that it would be Manly that would be pulverised under a b;ack avalanche but Manly had the better of exchanges for much of the match and showed that their forward pack will be a feared unit this year.
The sides had barely settled down when Manly were controversially denied the opportunity of a try after Donald crossed the line. The referee declined the opportunity to go to the video referee, ruling that Brent Kite had lost the ball in a tackle. However replays suggested that it was a Warriors player that had stripped the ball.
The two sides then exchanged blows (sometimes literally) for the next twenty five minutes. Terry Hill was engaged in a running battle with the equally hot tempered Clinton Toopi and was put on report for a hit on his opposite in the 16th minute.
Shane Dunley conceded an unnecessary penalty in the 25th minute to allow the Warriors to open the scoring. Minutes later Kylie Leuluai had the crowd baying for blood after a smashing hit on Warriors captain Steven Price.
In the 29th minute Monaghan put through a clever chip kick close to the Warriors line. The ball was knocked back into his arms by Kiwi five eighth Lance Hohaia and Monaghan had the simple task of passing to Steve Menzies on the inside to allow the game’s greatest try-scoring forward a saloon passage to his 149th career try. Witt converted to put Manly ahead 6-2.
Other highlights in a mistake riddled first half were two 40/20 kicks from the Manly side showing that much practice has gone into this aspect of their over the off season. Des Hasler would also have been incredibly pleased with his side’s defence, the defensively challenged Sea Eagles side only missing 5 tackles in the entire first half.
However, he would have gained most pleasure from a 40th minute try just before the sides left for oranges. The Warriors were wilting late in the half and Manly capitalised. Monaghan saw a gap, dummied before the line and shimmied his way through. He was caught by the defence but played the ball quickly to allow Anthony Watmough to burrow over the line for a four pointer. Witt converted to give Manly a 12-2 lead at the break.
The game opened up early in the second half as both sides began to throw the ball around looking for an advantage. A Nathan Fien bomb bounced dangerously in the in-goal area before Brett Stewart cleaned up. This lead to a sustained period of attack on the Manly line. Manly defended well but were prised open when a kick through was fumbled allowing Henderson to regather and stagger towards the try line in the 47th minute. The try was converted.
Manly hit back quickly. Kite steamed towards the try-line to lay the platform before Monaghan spread the ball wide to the timeless duo of Hill and Hopoate. Hill beautifully drew his man before putting Hopoate into space for a try wide out on the right. Witt was unable to convert and with half an hour to go Manly led the match 16-8.
A stupid mistake in a play the ball by the ubiquitous Anthony Watmough (not the first time a brain explosion from that source has threatened to turn a game) allowed the Warriors to pressure the line. Jones put a kick through which was gathered by Stewart. There was a hint that Stewart was robbed of possession but the video referee saw it differently and awarded the try in the 53rd minute. Jones converted to make it a two point ball game.
The see sawing continued in the 57th minute as Manly’s forwards bashed the ball up towards the Warriors line before Michael Monaghan launched a towering bomb to the left had side for Donald Duck to swoop high, gather and plunge over for the try. Witt missed the conversion but Manly were ahead by the margin of a converted try.
Hill was placed on report again for a high tackle in the 71st minute. In the 75th minute Donald streaked 80 metres after the Warriors had bombed the Manly line and the ball had spilt free. Watmough picked up the ball and fed it to Donald who was never in doubt. The decision was referred to the video referee who controversially ruled that the ball had come off a Warriors player meaning that Watmough was not in an off side position when he fielded the ball. Michael Witt converted to create a 12 point lead.
Toopi crossed for a late consolation try but Manly had done enough to hang on for a strong 26-20 victory. There seemed to be few injury concerns for the Sea Eagles with most players walking off at the end of the match with smiles on their faces. They may need an ice pack or two but without information filtering from the sheds it looks as though they’ve all made it through safely and will be set to do battle with the Sharks next week.
Of more concern to Manly supporters will be Terry Hill twice on report and a high shot from Kylie Leuluai that is sure to attract attention. Fingers will be crossed that Hill will escape the week unscathed as he was intimidating and impregnable in defence and will be sorely needed to line up against the quicksilver Nigel Vagana next weekend.
On a personal note I’m very glad to be proven to be horribly wrong.
Vital statistics:
Completion rate: 64%
Errors: 14
Missed tackles: 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matabele’s Best and Fairest points:
3: Terry Hill
2: Michael Monaghan
1: Michael Witt
