Round 19
Rabbitohs 20 l. Sea Eagles 26

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Robertson hat-trick sinks Rabbitohs
Sun July 16, 2006
Manly have kept their outside chances of a top four finish alive thanks to a hat-trick of tries from winger Michael Robertson to fend off a spirited but out classed South Sydney side 26-20 at Telstra Stadium last night.

Robertson scored the opening try after eight minutes where Manly caught Yileen Gorden out in defence with Steve Matai making the break and passing inside to Robertson to score an impressive try where he showed impressive speed.

Souths however struck back despite the setback of having a try to John Sutton disallowed due to Brett Stewart being tackled without the ball. David Peachey crossed in the 15th minute following a strong burst from Joe Galuvao and Luke MacDougall was next to score in the 26th minute when he dived on a kick into the ingoal area for Souths to lead 10-6.

Manly regained momentum of the match with Robertson scoring a further two tries to give himself a first half hat-trick and a total of four tries for the season as Manly went in leading 16-10 at the break.

Brett Stewart scored his 16th try in just 15 appearances this season nine minutes into the second half and it looked set that Manly would run away with the game.

Nathan Merritt got the Rabbitohs back into the match with a length of the field try where he out paced the super quick Stewart to score.

Manly's next try came through a Rabbitohs error when Peachey covered up a kick along the ground and in the process of being pushed back into the ingoal area lost the ball where Luke Williamson dived on the crumbs to score.

Merritt scored with ten minutes remaining to give Souths a faint hope of forcing the match into Golden Point but poor handling and a lack of class cost them dearly.

Manly's victory puts them clear in 6th position but they could go to 5th position if the Roosters beat the Sharks today and down to 7th position if Newcastle win by 25 or more against Melbourne. The Sea Eagles haven't set the world on fire following a great patch of form earlier in the season but have been doing enough to keep themselves in and around the 5th and 6th positions. They will be in the semi-finals come September, although they will be nervous following Ben Kennedy's injury in the final stages of the match where he limped off with a knee problem.

Souths on the other hand will be looking at ways of snaring a second victory with the only realistic chance of points between now and Round 26 coming in the shape of a bye they still have up their sleeve.

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