Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Manly runaway victors
By Peter Veness
May 30, 2008 12:00am
MANLY 31 CANBERRA 18
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23785748-5001023,00.html
MANLY delivered a stunning win against a mistake-riddled Canberra, despite being one man down for the whole second half in tonight's round 12 NRL match.
Referee Sean Hampstead had little option but to send Sea Eagles backrower Adam Cuthbertson to an early shower when his outstretched arm cannoned into the neck of Raiders' forward Troy Thompson in the 31st minute at Canberra Stadium.
It was a rare Hampstead decision as he went to video referee Paul Simpkins repeatedly in both halves for everything from double movements to forward passes, giving both teams plenty of breathing time in the cold conditions.
Prior to Cuthbertson's send off Manly had been dominating the game through the boot of skipper Matt Orford.
He peppered Raiders winger David Milne with an aerial attack in the opening 20 minutes and soon enough former Canberra junior Michael Robertson grabbed hold of one for the first try of the night.
Ace Raiders half Todd Carney stole the momentum for the home side for the first time late in the opening stanza with a 40-20, his third of the season.
But the tenth placed side couldn't capitalise, with the score 12-0 to Manly at halftime. With a heavy dew settling on the stadium surface in the second half, Canberra had every reason to be hopeful of coming home strongly.
And soon enough the halves pair of Carney and Terry Campese were taking advantage of Manly's bunched defence, swinging the ball from side-to-side.
Fullback Bronx Goodwin bombed a certain try early in the half before the Raiders ran in tries to Carney and winger Colin Best.
But when Manly centre Steve Matai crashed over the game was beyond Canberra's reach at 24-12.
Orford confirmed the two points for last year's grand finalists with a field goal and then with less than four minutes to go veteran Steve Menzies made the scoreline barely believable.
Fulltime
MANLY 31 (M Robertson M Ballin A Watmough S Matai S Menzies tries M Orford 5 goals, field goal) bt CANBERRA 18 (C Best T Carney T Thurling tries T Carney 3 goals) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: S Hampstead. Crowd: 13,120.
By Peter Veness
May 30, 2008 12:00am
MANLY 31 CANBERRA 18
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23785748-5001023,00.html
MANLY delivered a stunning win against a mistake-riddled Canberra, despite being one man down for the whole second half in tonight's round 12 NRL match.
Referee Sean Hampstead had little option but to send Sea Eagles backrower Adam Cuthbertson to an early shower when his outstretched arm cannoned into the neck of Raiders' forward Troy Thompson in the 31st minute at Canberra Stadium.
It was a rare Hampstead decision as he went to video referee Paul Simpkins repeatedly in both halves for everything from double movements to forward passes, giving both teams plenty of breathing time in the cold conditions.
Prior to Cuthbertson's send off Manly had been dominating the game through the boot of skipper Matt Orford.
He peppered Raiders winger David Milne with an aerial attack in the opening 20 minutes and soon enough former Canberra junior Michael Robertson grabbed hold of one for the first try of the night.
Ace Raiders half Todd Carney stole the momentum for the home side for the first time late in the opening stanza with a 40-20, his third of the season.
But the tenth placed side couldn't capitalise, with the score 12-0 to Manly at halftime. With a heavy dew settling on the stadium surface in the second half, Canberra had every reason to be hopeful of coming home strongly.
And soon enough the halves pair of Carney and Terry Campese were taking advantage of Manly's bunched defence, swinging the ball from side-to-side.
Fullback Bronx Goodwin bombed a certain try early in the half before the Raiders ran in tries to Carney and winger Colin Best.
But when Manly centre Steve Matai crashed over the game was beyond Canberra's reach at 24-12.
Orford confirmed the two points for last year's grand finalists with a field goal and then with less than four minutes to go veteran Steve Menzies made the scoreline barely believable.
Fulltime
MANLY 31 (M Robertson M Ballin A Watmough S Matai S Menzies tries M Orford 5 goals, field goal) bt CANBERRA 18 (C Best T Carney T Thurling tries T Carney 3 goals) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: S Hampstead. Crowd: 13,120.