The Manly Sea Eagles have recorded a convincing 52 points to 6 victory over the NYC Sharks at Remondis Stadium.
In the Sharks 20s last outing of 2015, the hosts could not make an indentation against a Manly side buoyed by the prospect of playing top-four football next weekend.
And with that in the front of their minds, Manly got off to a near perfect start when they capitalised on a soft turn over and crossed through their back-rower William Bainbridge in the 4th minute.
The Sharks right-edge defence was looking shaky early, and the visitors ran in more points just five minutes after their first try to extend their margin to 12 points.
With the momentum well and truly with the boys from the Northern Beaches, the visitors would again assert their top four credentials when Mitch Thomas crossed on Manly’s right wing.
Addison Demetriou could not convert from the Western touchline, as the score remained at 16-0 in favour of the Sea Eagles.
Two from three with the boot, Demetriou would get in on the action in crossing the stripe too, in running in a sensational try after some razzle-dazzle from the Manly side.
In rounding out an emphatic first-40 performance, Bogle would register a double before Nic Hynes crossed to extend the visitors lead to 30.
On the stroke of half time, Manly would take another gift two points from a penalty goal, and return to the sheds with a commanding 32-points-to-nil lead.
The second-half started much the way as the first finished, as the Sea Eagles ran in another try, this time through forward Liam Knight.
In a match where the result was all-but beyond doubt at the change of ends, the pattern of play and scoring slowed – until Demetriou grabbed his second of the day in the 58th minute.
Up 44 points to nil, the Eagles showed no signs of mercy in bringing up a half century of points, as James Parker ran in a soft try. Demetriou converted, as manly took their lead to 50-0.
Manly would add two more points from the penalty tee, before the Sharks finally found some joy – albeit in the 80th minute – as Ashleigh Nisbet crossed on the buzzer to break the Sharks duck.
