Manly overcomes fast-finishing Eels

The Sea Eagles have survived a second-half revival from the Eels to prevail 20-16 in dreadful conditions at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night.

Manly's gritty victory, their third of the season, sees last season's grand-finalist maintain their spot inside the top-eight, while the Eels remain stranded at the wrong end of the ladder.

Having led by 10 points at the break the Sea Eagles surrendered their lead midway through the second-stanza, and with Steve Menzies, Michael Bani and Luke Williamson all sidelined with injury, the Eels looked likely to steal the first victory of the NRL's heritage round.

But Manly somehow managed to muster a fourth and match-winning try from a simple-set-play which saw Heath L'Estrange cross untouched in the 74th minute.

Manly drew first-blood in the fifth minute after a bizarre sequence of play.

Prop Josh Perry put Steve Menzies into open space but the veteran could not find the open man on his outside as Eric Grothe appeared to deny the Eagles.

Grothe quickly turned from hero to villain - the strapping winger tore across field and delivered an errant pass to Jarryd Hayne which bounced into the path of Eagles flyer Michael Bani who crossed for his fifth try of the season.

Matt Orford added the extras from the sideline to hand the Eagles a 6-0 advantage.

But the visitor's try came at a cost with Menzies forced from the field with a hamstring injury.
Parramatta hit back in the 10th minute in the form of a Luke Burt penalty goal to make it 6-2.

Manly's response was swift as Orford and Michael Robertson combined to hand the visitors a valuable 10-2 lead after 16 minutes as the rain continued to fall.

Grothe looked to have a searching kick from Orford well and truly covered but showed little urgency as Robertson somehow won the race for the ball to post Manly's second four-pointer.

Another penalty goal late in the half saw the Eels close to within a converted try, 10-4, at the break.

Incumbent Kangaroos fullback Brett Stewart gave the Eagles some breathing space seven minutes after the break.

The Eels defence looked to have the prolific fullback covered but were guilty of ball-watching as the visitors extended to a 14-4 lead.

Parramatta had to be the next to score and they found inspiration from an unlikely source - the boot of Nathan Hindmarsh.

The inspirational back-rower delivering a well-weighted kick which Eagles skipper Matt Orford failed to grasp - Chad Robinson won the race to the ball to cut the deficit to 14-10.

The momentum stayed with the hosts who took their first lead of the night with 20 minutes remaining.

Parramatta's second try again came from the boot as Feleti Mateo delivered a pin-point kick for Luke Burt who took the ball in Manly's dead-ball area unchallenged.

The try scorer added the extras from in front to lead 16-14 - but it was not to be for Michael Hagan's men.

Sea Eagles 20
Tries: Bani, Robertson, Stewart, L'Estrange.Conversions: Orford 2.

Eels 16
Tries: Robinson, BurtConversions: Burt 2Pen: Burt 2