LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
The Sea Eagles of seaeagles.com.au have soared to victory in Fiji, with a dominant first half laying the foundation for their 28-22 win over the Kaiviti Silktails in a thrilling round 22 clash of the Jersey Flegg Cup.
In a battle played in sweltering conditions at Churchill Park, Lautoka, the Sea Eagles charged to a commanding 28-0 lead at half-time, setting the stage for a fierce fightback from the Silktails, a team making their debut in the U21s competition.
The action kicked off in the second minute as hooker Daniel O'Donnell fired off a short pass to prop Kylan Mafoa, who bulldozed his way over the line to put the Sea Eagles up 6-0.
Just 10 minutes later, centre Alton Naiyep capitalized on a break from half-back Travis May to extend Manly's lead to 12-0 with a scorching try down the short side.
Prop Devante Mihinui added to the tally with a powerful surge over the line after a slick pass from May, pushing the score to 18-0 in favor of the Sea Eagles.
O'Donnell continued his masterful work, setting up another try as he fed the ball to Jesse Jackson who crashed over for a 24-0 lead, leaving the Silktails scrambling to keep up.
While the Silktails mounted a valiant comeback in the second half, the Sea Eagles maintained their stronghold to secure a hard-fought victory on Fijian soil, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.