Cherry- Evans good as gold to keep Manly in contention

MANLY have pulled off a dramatic NRL victory with skipper Daly Cherry- Evans landing a field goal in the fifth minute of golden point to beat the Warriors 22- 21 in Auckland.

The Sea Eagles had trailed by seven points with seven minutes of normal time to go.

Fullback Tom Trbojevic produced a chip- and- chase try from nothing, Matt Wright kicked the conversion and then Cherry- Evans landed a field goal to tie the score with two minutes on the clock.

Warriors star Shaun Johnson and Cherry- Evans each had another go at a one- pointer in the final minute of normal time, but both went wide, before Cherry- Evans nailed the extra- time winner, kicking into the wind with his left foot after stepping off his right.

The win halted Manly’s slump and maintained playoff hopes, but for the Warriors, already out of finals reckoning, it was an eighth loss in a row.

Manly dominated early in front of 9167 fans and were aided by a couple superb 40- 20s from five- eighth Blake Green.

The second ended just outside the corner flag and led to lock Jake Trbojevic opening the scoring in the 13th minute.

The home side had been guilty of some sloppy touches but then benefited from a Manly turnover deep in their own half to send winger David Fusitu’a over in the corner.

Eight minutes from halftime, Fusitu’a got his second chasing a Johnson kick into the in- goal.

Warriors hooker Issac Luke wasn’t able to land the conversion, leaving the scored locked 8- all at halftime.