Round Ten
North Beach Sea Eagles 14 – Willagee Bears 16
“I was a bit disappointed that we missed the kick but I knew we still had time, maybe one more set,” Davis said.
“We got the ball back on our own 20 and when we got to two tackles left in the set Kainoa (Gudgeon) found Manny on his right and it was all sweet.”
Kelly’s try was the Bears third of the evening after big prop Emmanuel Maliko and backrower Derek Chizuni had crossed earlier in a game that had so many back stories.
Manfred Kelly in action at CAST Championships / Photo – NRL Victoria
Beach coach Phil Douché had earlier lost fullback Riley Bradley and second row forward Kobi Rafferty in the warm-up – forcing him to make late changes five minutes before kickoff.
Bradley with an ankle injury after an awkward turn and Rafferty with a head knock, saw Douché drop winger Te Ra Hare Ahuriri to fullback – a position he’d never played before – and call up Tane Dodunski on the wing.
Dodunski had just played 80 minutes in Val Murphy and went on to play another 80 in first grade.
“A team restructure five minute before kickoff was a challenge,” Douché said.
“I have to praise them for their resilience and effort, even though it wasn’t our day.”
Then to make matters worse for North Beach, halfback Tyrone Cranstone was forced to come off with a hamstring injury early in the first half – with Justin Buckley moving into the halves.
Justin Buckley lining up for Perth City / Photo – Total Sports Photography
“Fair play to Willagee, they are a physical side who get a lot of energy from that and they won the game,” Douché added.
“We were frustrated with ourselves as we couldn’t play our normal fast-paced game.”
In a tough and at times scrappy game, the Bears withstood a lot of pressure and Davis was pleased with how they responded to a breakaway try from North Beach centre Jaylen Grey midway through the second half.
“I was really proud of how they reacted to that try,” Davis said.
“We have a big and physical pack and at halftime I switched (fullback) Kainoa (Gudgeon) and halfback Millsy (Ryan Mills) to give us a bit extra and I think it worked.”
Beach had begun the game the better, with debut boy Dodunski crossing before Maliko found the whitewash.
Jake Parkes put the home side back in from on 16 minutes before Chizuni scored to give the visitors a 12-8 lead at the interval.
When Grey intercepted and sprinted 90 metres for the line just after the hour mark Buckley added the extras, the Sea Eagles kept the opposition at bay – until an offside call with four minutes to go.
Mills’ missed kick left time for one last set – and as so many say – rugby league is an 80-minute game.
Manfred Kelly and coach Nelson Davis certainly know that.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green