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 fourth-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 Jarred 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 Hugh 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)
