Round 13 - Manly Sea Eagles vs St George Dragons - Brookvale Oval 1st June 2012

Our first friday night home game of the season and the forecast was not looking good. Rain clouds hung darkly over Brookvale, but that did not deter me from going to cheer my boys on. Yes, I was going to be there rain, hail or shine. The wet weather gear was packed into the car, and we were prepared for a wet night on the Western Concourse.

Last night's match was a bit of a grudge match for me. My dad has, for as long as I can remember, been a Dragons fan and is definitely not too keen on the Sea Eagles. So, I knew coming into the match that whatever way the match was to go, we most likely will never speak of the game EVER.

I had the day off so we got to Brookvale Oval a little early and watched the last 25 minutes of the NYC Toyota cup game. Unfortunately we came off with a loss in that game. But I have some photos you can check out on the photo page. It was nice to get out and check out the up and coming talent.

Soon the crowds started pouring in. I was a bit unsure how big the crowd would get considering it was a friday night and it was meant to rain. As usual the crowd was electric. Absolutely alive. The boys ran out to warm up and it was so good seeing Kieran Foran back on the field, running and warming up with the team.

I was a little concerned as Nick Skinner and Liam Foran (18th and 19th man) were also warming up in their jerseys. I have never noticed more players than the listed 17 warming up before a match, if anyone has some insight, please share! I thought perhaps there might have been some doubt for Kieran or Anthony Watmough and maybe they were there just in case warm-up did not go according to plan.

At about 7:30 the rain started. I donned my wet weather gear as the boys were running back to the sheds. When I'd finally sorted myself out, the rain stopped. It stayed away most of the night, with the occasional sprinkle here and there.

St George ran out onto the field to a rather loud disapproving "boooo" from the crowd. Then our boys ran out on to the field with Jamie Lyon leading them. On an aside, one habit I have seen is that every time Jamie Lyon leads the boys on to field, just before he leaves the undercover shed he takes a swig of a drink and spits it as he takes his first steps onto the field. Just saying....


The crowd explodes with a massive cheer as they enter the field and prepare for kick off. We're facing north and we have the first kick off. Daly Cherry-Evans lines the boys up and starts the game off. From the whistle to the end Manly supporters are cheering on their team - or in the case of section WF, heckling St George and poor Ben Creagh. Unfortunately it was Creagh who copped an absolute onslaught of abuse from the crowd. I feel I must tell you that section WF is right behind the away teams bench, so every week some poor member of that team cops an absolute mouth full. I'm not so sure how much is in good Aussie heckling spirit, and how much is due to the alcohol the crowd has had.

Anyway, the game is underway and the Manly chant is sounding out across the field. The boys have a fire in their belly and they are out there all guns blazing. We get the ball close to the try line but can't seem to break the Dragons defence. We seem to be dominating possession in the opening minutes and it is looking promising for us. About six minutes in, the Dragons take the ball all the way down the field and are awarded two penalties in a row. The first penalty they decide to go for another six, on the blow of the second whistle they make the interesting decision to go for a penalty goal. Soward takes the kick and is successful opening the scoring.

Several sets are played and you can tell the Sea Eagles are itching for a try, itching to take the lead. We are awarded a penalty in front of the goal posts and choose to restart the tackle count. "Good!" we all cheer, "We know how to get real points!" Jamie Lyon puts a grubber kick in for Michael Oldfield who dives on it and picks up the first of his three tries for the night. Lyon successfully converts the try bringing the score to 6-2 to Manly. The crowd is ballistic!

The next 20 minutes pass without either side adding to their points. Watmough comes awfully close to getting the ball down, but it comes loose as he is tackled in goal. St George also have a close call when Vidot goes over the line, but is held up by Foran and company. As the video ref checks the footage out, the crowd are in uproar, "No try!", "Held up!" I think the video ref heard us all. The decision was, thankfully, no try.

Half time and the score is still 6-2. It is resembling a number of our previous games at half time. Low scoring, and not much distinguishing the two sides. During the first half, poor Kieran Foran looked as though he was about to pass out from exhaustion, he was seen limping a bit and breathless more often than not, however, that did not seem to deter him and he kept at it. He was involved in 22 tackles and proved why we are so glad to have seen him sign with Manly for a few more years.

The second half began and only four minutes in Oldfield scores another in the right hand corner. The crowd is on their feet cheering, clapping and encouraging our team on! Lyon misses the conversion and the score remains close at 10-2. There are still 35 minutes left in this game, and we all know it is not over yet. It's too close for anyone to be sitting comfortably, we are all on edge, waiting for the next try.

The next try does not come to us, Brett Morris breaks through our forward pack and runs a good 30 or 40 meters down the field before he is stopped by Brett Stewart. With our team struggling to get back onside, St George take their chance and are rewarded with a try as winger Daniel Vidot breaks through the line and places the ball down. The Dragons supporters are loud, it's really the first time that we have heard them all night. Soward converts the try and brings the score to a very, very uncomfortable 10-8. Manly still hold the lead but with more than 20 minutes on the clock, it is anybody's game.

The game gets a little slow and a little quiet. Both teams are playing good football and both teams are itching for that next try. In the 72nd minute Manly kicks on the 5th and Vidot takes the ball. About 5 Sea Eagles force him back into the in-goal area before being called held, this means a line-drop out for Manly and a crucial opportunity to extend their lead.

Oldfield secures his hat trick off a Brett Stewart ball and the fans explode into cheers. I, however, am losing my voice from all the yelling, screaming, cheering and heckling. My cheers are more like whispers at this stage, but it's the thought that counts, and I am sending telepathic congrats to my team. What can I say, we're tight like that! Another unsuccessful conversion and the teams are only separated by one converted try.

There are still four long minutes left in this game and the thought that is playing on everyones mind is golden point. I can't remember the last time we played for golden point. I do, however, remember the last time we tried to get a field goal, and failed. Soward and the Dragons have a good record with field goals as far as I know, they love their sneaky, sly one-pointers. Anything, anything but golden point.

St George try to take advantage of these four minutes with a short kick off, correct me if I'm wrong but I think it comes off the boot of Ben Hornby. Fortunately for us, and very unfortunately for St George it goes out on the full and the Sea Eagles, get their chance to extend the lead with a penalty. Darcy Lussick powers through the Dragons defence and lands himself neatly over the try line. It's done. We have won the game. Victory, sweet victory is ours, and everyone knows it. Jamie Lyon converts this one, for good measure and the next few sets are played out until finally the siren sounds.



The boys are all smiles as they do the rounds and the majority of the crowd is smiling as well. Nothing is sweeter than victory. After last weeks horrid effort against the Penrith Panthers, we needed this victory to prove something, if not to the world, to ourselves. We still have it, we are most definitely a force to be reckoned with, despite our depleted side week in and week out. Cheers to the freaking weekend!

All photos courtesy of Jasiah Ulbricht Photography