Pat Leafa crosses for Manly’s first in the shadows of half-time – Photo: seiserphotography.com

by Paul Cook –

It wasn’t pretty but Manly finally booked their place in the last four of this year’s Shute Shield with a hard fought 22-15 win over a combative Eastern Suburbs at Coogee Oval. Suffering a hangover from last week’s last gasp loss at the hands of Sydney University, it took the Marlins a while to play their way into this one as a fired up Beasties outfit took advantage of their initial malaise to outmuscle them at the breakdown and choke their threats across the park. Only 3-3 after 30 minutes, it was still Manly who found the breakthrough in the shadows of half-time, Pat Leafa crossing to leave a narrow 8-3 lead at oranges.

However, Easts fought back and had the majority of territory and possession in a far more exciting second half and a converted try from Elijah Niko put their noses in front by 2pts. With the Marlins looking leggy from the previous Sunday’s exertions, an upset looked on the cards but just as the Beasts looked likely to go on with the job, Manly dredged up an extra gear and found two tries in the last 10 minutes from Jordy Reid and skipper Ed Gower. A late score from Easts’ hooker Alex Walker wasn’t enough to stop the Marlins setting up a mouthwatering clash against Minor Premiers Eastwood at TG Millner next Sunday.

FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW

Manly 22 (Pat Leafa, Jordy Reid, Ed Gower tries; Marshall Milroy cons 2, pen) d Eastern Suburbs 15 (Elijah Niko, Alex Walker tries; Brendan McKibbin con, pen) at Coogee Oval. Referee Andrew Lees