Round 3
Sea Eagles 20 d. Sharks 18

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Matt Orford [HB] 8 Pts; 4/4g
Brett Stewart [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (32nd)
Steven Bell [CT] 4 Pts; 1t (62nd)
Travis Burns [F8] 4 Pts; 1t (51st)

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Luke Covell [WG] 6 Pts; 3/4g
Adam Dykes [F8] 4 Pts; 1t (3rd)
Phil Bailey [CT] 4 Pts; 1t (75th)
Darren Albert [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (15th)



Manly win Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy
Sun March 26, 2006
Manly has come from 10-0 down to record their first victory of the season defeating Cronulla 20-18 to take out the Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy in a thrilling game at Brookvale Oval last night.

Cronulla has now squandered two excellent leads in successive weeks with their only premiership points coming from a bye in the opening round. Last week the Sharks led Brisbane 12-0 at halftime and last night were up 10-18 before Manly raced in three unanswered tries.

Adam Dykes scored first in the 3rd minute when he was first to the ball following a well timed grubber kick from Brett Kimmorley with Luke Covell adding the extras. Darren Albert crossed outwide in the 14th minute to push the Sharks lead out to 10-0 with Covell unable to convert.

Brett Stewart kept Manly in the game in the first half with a 32nd minute try and Matt Orford's conversion reduced the margin to four points, which remained the score at halftime.

Covell was sin binned in the 37th minute but fortunately for the Sharks they didn't concede any points and one minute after Covell's return to the field he added a penalty goal to push the Sharks 12-6 clear.

Manly leveled up the scores in the 51st minute when Travis Burns scored his maiden top grade try when he pounced on a drop ball from the Sharks with Orford adding the extras.

Steven Bell scored a fine try and is proving to be an outstanding purchase for the Sea Eagles. Orford converted with Manly up by six points and it became an eight-point lead when Orford landed a penalty goal in the 74th mintue.

Phil Bailey scored for the Sharks in the final stages but Manly held on for a two-point victory in a fine game of football. The Sea Eagles will gain great confidence from the victory but next week face up to the star-studded Roosters outfit in what will be a true test in a battle shaping up as the former silvertails hosting the current silvertails.

Cronulla's start to the season is a case of what might have been as they have surrended two excellent leads only to lose both matches but should get two points next week when they host Souths at Toyota Park.

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