| Local derby heartbreak as Marlins surrender big lead By Adam Lucius |
| What: Shute Shield round 8 |
| Who: Manly v Warringah |
| Where: Manly Oval |
| Result: Warringah 31-25 |
| Manly is where on the table: Sixth (17 points) |
80 minutes in 80 seconds:
What a pity we can’t rename this section ’50 minutes in 50 seconds’ or even ’78 minutes in 78 seconds’. Because apart from a brief period at the start of the game when they slotted a penalty goal to lead 3-0, the Rats were behind us all day until a try under the posts in the 78 th minute put them in front. Let’s not beat around the pine tree – Manly should have won this game after leading 25-3 shortly after the resumption. The wheels fell off in dramatic circumstances, robbing the blue side of the big crowd of a memorable victory.
Where it was Lost:
The Marlins were in complete control for the first half, repelling a late Rat attack on their line to go to the break 22-3 up. Two tries to new boy Ben Howard and a charge-down try to lock Alex Humfrey – and Nick Holton’s boot - did the damage. Another Holton penalty two minutes into the second half increased the lead to 25-3 and it looked a long way back for the visitors from there. But a long-distance intercept try at the 45-minute mark gave Warringah a sniff and they grew an extra leg (or whatever Rats use to get around). The momentum shift was palpable. The visitors scored a further the tries to steal what had looked an unlikely victory.
Marlins' best:
Alex Humfrey, Harry Bergelin, Beaudein Waaka
What they said:
“They came back and threw everything at us and we just weren’t good enough to stop them. If we’d picked up another try or even a penalty, I think we would have broken their back. I’d swap that (200 game milestone) for a win.” - Manly No.8 Dan Alley
Worth a mention:
Depending on who you listen to, the crowd figure was anywhere between 7 and 10,000. Your author has been around a long time and can’t remember too many bigger crowds at the old Village Green. The sun shone, the beer flowed, a million Marlin Burgers were destroyed and the punters put a fair dent in Hilly’s merchandise collection. It’s a credit to both clubs that this match has grown into arguably the biggest day on the Australian rugby calendar. We’re already looking forward to the return bout on July 20 at Rat Park.
Where to from here:
A tricky away trip to Concord Oval to meet West Harbour awaits the Marlins. It marks the halfway point of the season and we are starting to get into must-win territory.
