Daniel Alley breaks the line in Manly’s 26 all draw with Eastwood – Photo: seiserphotography.com

by NSW Rugby –

A last-minute try from the Manly Marlins was enough to secure a draw with top-placed Eastwood at a sunny TG Millner Field on Saturday.

With the scores tied 13-all at the break, a try from Eastwood’s Hugh Perrett gave the home side a 26-21 lead with seven minutes remaining.  A powerful maul from the Manly pack levelled the scores at the death and gave them a chance to snatch victory with the conversion.  Although Tom Chesters’ touchline kick was unsuccessful, Manly take away a valuable two points that sees them sit equal-fourth with Southern Districts, who have a game in hand.

Elsewhere, Gordon put in one of their best performances of the year to down local rivals Norths at Chatswood Oval, with a last-minute conversion stealing a one-point win.  Undeterred by the vocal Parramatta crowd, West Harbour proved their worth against the Two Blues, running in an impressive 11 tries in a 67-31 victory over their western Sydney rivals.

In Sunday’s rescheduled Round 12 match, Norths were back in action for the second time in two days, running in seven tries in a comfortable 52-7 victory over Penrith.

With the remaining three matches of Round 13 (Warringah against Sydney University, Penrith against Southern Districts and Randwick up against Eastern Suburbs) taking place next weekend, Eastwood retains its top-of-the-table position, seven points clear of the second-placed Students, who have a game in hand.

Eastwood v Manly

Players at TG Millner left the field happy but not ecstatic yesterday, after a 26-all draw saw first-placed Eastwood and fifth-placed Manly each gain two competition points.

With the scores tied at 13-all at half time, there was nothing to separate the teams, who both showed some good running rugby but left several kickable penalties out on the park.

A drop goal from Marshall Milroy got Manly off the board in the opening minutes, with a try from blindside flanker Dylan Sigg extending the visitors’ lead to 10-0. The Woodies hit back with a penalty before an entertaining try from Eastwood flyhalf Pierre Hola, who showed some great athleticism to jump over a ruck and run under the posts – gave the home side its first five pointer.

In the second period, the Marlins were back on the attack, securing an early try from No. 8 Daniel Alley, who peeled off the back of a ruck, 25 metres out from the tryline, and was just too quick for Eastwood’s scrambling defence.  The missed conversion took the score to 13-18 to Manly favour with 37 minutes of the second half remaining.

With both teams hammered around the edges of the ruck, referee Andrew Lees was forced to take a firm approach, with penalties for hands in the ruck and not rolling away seeing some easy metres gained by both teams.

An up-and-under from Hola saw Eastwood draw closer to victory as a lack of communication from Manly’s back three allowed the Woodies to steal the ball and score in the corner, a long Hola pass putting Perrett over, levelling the scores at 21-all with 15 minutes remaining.

Some big plays from Eastwood lock Jared Barry, whose defence shook Manly’s forward pack all game, and skipper Perrett put Eastwood ahead by 26-21 with seven minutes left, courtesy of a Locky McCaffrey try.

As the match entered the final stages, Eastwood and Manly fans were all biting their nails as Manly began to pressure the Eastwood line.  With just 40 seconds remaining, a powerful and well executed maul saw Manly crash over in the corner.  The try, which was awarded to back rower Harry Bergelin, was too tough for Chesters to convert, leaving the final score at 26-all.

Said disappointed Eastwood captain Hugh Perrett after the game, “We failed to mount pressure with our defence, which came off the back of our inability to make inroads through attack.

“To come away with a draw at least, whilst it isn’t a win it isn’t a loss either, so I guess there is a positive in that.”

Eastwood 26 (Nick Batger, Pierre Hola, Hugh Perrett tries; Pierre Hola con, 3 pens) drew with Manly 26 (Daniel Alley, Harry Bergelin, Dylan Sigg tries; Tom Chesters con, pen, Marshall Milroy pen, drop goal)

Norths winger Peter Schuster on the run in his side’s loss to Gordon
Photo: seiserphotography.com

Gordon v Norths

It was a huge home game for Gordon on Saturday, coming up against a confident and strong Norths’ outfit, who sit comfortably ahead of them on the table. In the end it came down to stamina and with both teams notching up five tries apiece, it fell to Gordon flyhalf Henry Carmichael to steal a one-point win for the Highlanders with a conversion after the buzzer.

Gordon 32 (Henry Carmichael 2, Jack Dempsey, Lucas Simkin 2 tries; Henry Carmichael pen, Terry Preston 2 cons) d Northern Suburbs 31 (Elih Baillie, AJ Gilbert, Bill Meakes, Liam Windon 2 tries; Corey Brown 3 cons)

*******

Parramatta v West Harbour

It is never an easy task to secure an away win in front of a passionate Merrylands crowd but that didn’t deter a fired up Wests team who seemed determined to make Parra hurt. Despite the hosts  getting 30 points on the board, their defence was simply shrugged off by the Pirates’ powerful forwards and quick outside backs, who soaked up the atmosphere and channelled it into an 11-try, 67 – 31 victory over Parra, showing why they are a top tier team in 2013.

West Harbour 67 (Henry Seavula 3, Alofa Alofa 2, Shaun Treweek 2, Jack Debreczeni, David Lolohea, Nua Alone, penalty try tries; Andrew Sawala 4 cons, Jack Debreczeni 2 cons) d Parramatta 31 (Damien Fakafanua, Myles Hunkin, Lui Sakaria, Moses Tavola, William Tuitupou tries; Tom Woods 3 cons)

*******

Northern Suburbs v Penrith (rescheduled Round 12 match)

In Sunday’s rescheduled Round 12 match at North Sydney, Norths were back in action, this time against against Penrith.  Despite having played less than 24 hours earlier, the home side showed no signs of fatigue, dominating the entire 80 minutes and scoring seven tries to rack up a 52-point tally. In their typical ‘never say die’ fashion, Penrith managed to put a try on the home team, with centre Henry Lilomaiava crossing for a try, converted by young colt Lachlan Fox, to take the final score to 52-7 to Norths.

Northern Suburbs 52 (Elih Baillie, Jac Cameron, Michael Dowsett, Ben Matwijow, Will Miller, Pat Sio, Liam Windon tries; Scott Daruda 4 cons, 3 pens) d Penrith 7 (Henry Lilomaiava try; Lachlan Fox con)