|
 The
St George Illawarra Dragons have completed
a remarkable comeback, defeating the Manly
Sea Eagles 36-34 at Oki Jubilee this afternoon.
Midway
through the second half, the Dragons trailed
34-10 but a bombardment of points, including
two tries to Nathan Blacklock in his farewell
appearance at Kogarah helped seal the miraculous
win and keep the Dragons top four hopes alive.
The
Dragons looked gone for all money and it would
have been a brave man to tip the Dragons to
make a revival when their chances looked extremely
grim.
Manly
held a commanding 24-4 lead and looked certain
to hand the Dragons a shock loss just two
weeks out from the finals. The Sea Eagles
were scoring at will through long range tries
to Scott Donald but Nathan Blacklock would
not be denied in his Dragons swan song appearance
and had a hand in three second half tries,
scoring two and setting up one for Matt Cooper
out wide.
Nathan
Brown would be feeling a little bit greyer
and will need an ECG to see if his heart rate
has returned to normal but the crowd would
have got their money’s worth and more,
especially when Parramatta bound Mark Riddell
slotted what was to be the match winning goal
with just over two minutes remaining.
Manly
fans would be bitterly disappointed with the
loss after being in such a dominant positing
for much of the game but there were some positive
signs for Sea Eagles fans, and with Brent
Kite and Ben Kennedy on their way to the peninsula
next season, a top eight berth is not out
of the question.
The
Dragons now have the bye next weekend and
to make the top four and secure a home final,
Brisbane must beat the Panthers at Penrith
otherwise the Dragons will travel to Penrith
in the first week of the finals but should
have a second bite at the cherry if they lose.
Scorers:
DRAGONS 36
Tries: Timmins, Withers, Blacklock 2, Hornby,
Cooper, Poore
Goals: Head 1/2, Riddell 3/5
defeated
SEA
EAGLES 34
Tries: Stephenson 2, Menzies, Donald, Stewart,
Williamson
Goals: Williamson 2/2, Walker 3/4
Venue: OKI Jubilee Stadium
(Kogarah)
Kickoff: 2:30pm
Referee: Tony Archer
By
the clock:
1st
min: Kick Off!!! There is rain falling at
Oki Jubilee Stadium. Bad start for the Eagles
when Brett Stewart is tackled in-goal off
the kick off.
5th
Min: Still 0-0, Eagles defence is good in
the early stages.
7th
Min: Try-Manly, A Kick across field from Michael
Monaghan ends up in the ends of Paul Stephenson
who scores the first try of the game. Williamson
converts, Manly 6-0.
11th
Min: Try-Manly, Paul Stephenson gets his second
try today after Steven Menzies passed over
to him. Williamson converts, Manly lead 12-0.
17th
Min: Still 12-0 to Manly here, Dragons had
a chance a few minutes ago but lost the ball.
22nd
Min: No change to the scoreline, and the rain
is still falling. Manly 12-0.
24th
Min: Trent Barrett was over the line but lost
the ball in a tackle, another bombed chance
by the Dragons. 12-0 Manly.
33rd
Min: Try-Dragons, The Dragons go in for their
first try through Shaun Timmins after a good
ball from Trent Barrett, Matthew Head missed
the kick, Manly 12-4.
37th
Min: Try-Manly, Steven Menzies grabs his 147th
Try, the most by a forward ever in Australia,
and it came off a little grubber kick from
Michael Monaghan, Walker Converts, Manly 18-4.
40th
Min: Try-Manly, Scott Donald races 70m to
score another Try for Manly after a mistake
from the Dragons, Walker converts and at Halftime
Manly lead 24-4.
41st
Min: The Dragons have a lot of work to do
in this second half.
News:
Trent Barrett may not be back today after
being hurt in the first half.
47th
Min: Try-Dragons, Lincoln Withers scores a
Try after a great offload from Lance Thompson,
Withers converts. Manly 24-10.
50th
Min: Try-Manly, Brett Stewart goes in for
a try after Sam Harris tapped it backwards,
Walker converts, Manly 30-10.
52nd
Min: Try-Manly, Luke Williamson score a try
after Monaghan gave the ball onto Donald who
threw a shocking pass but it came off Williamson's
foot and he scores. Walker misses the kick,
Manly 34-10.
57th
Min: Try-Dragons, Nathan Blacklock gets a
try after a nice little grubber kick from
Mark Riddell, Riddell misses, Manly 34-14.
62nd
Min: Try-Dragons, Nathan Blacklock gets his
second of the day after a grubber kick, Riddell
Converts, Manly 34-20.
64th
Min: Try-Dragons, they are on their way back,
this time a Try to Ben Hornby who scores under
the posts, Riddell converts and it's 34-26
Manly.
66th
Min: Try-Dragons, Nathan Blacklock puts in
a kick for Matt Cooper who goes into score
a Try, Riddell misses, Manly 34-30.
71st
Min: No change to the score, nine minutes
left, Manly 34-30.
74th
Min: Eagles to get the ball back from a line
drop-out.
75th
Min: Dragons hold on, still 34-30 to Manly...five
left.
76th
Min: Dragons to get the ball back off a line
drop-out.
78th
Min: Try-Dragons, Justin Poore scores a Try
to even things up, Riddell converts and the
Dragons lead 36-34!!!!!!!!!!
80th
Min: Scott Donald lost the ball when he had
40m to go, and only had to beat one.
Fulltime:
The Dragons have made the best comeback I
have ever seen, they were down 34-10 and have
come back to win the game 36-34, I hope you
enjoyed it!
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - M Head (Dragons)
2 - M Monagan (Sea Eagles)
1 - M Riddell (Dragons)
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