Manly Warringah Sea Eagles survived a second-half fightback from the Newcastle Knights for a 24-20 win in Round Three action of the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership on Sunday.
It was the Sea Eagles first win of 2024 and their first victory at home – 4 Pines Park – after losing to the Parramatta Eels there in Round Two.
After taking a 14-4 lead into halftime, Manly Warringah led by skipper and former Sky Blues player Shontelle Stowers (pictured above) had to withstand a determined Knights team scoring three tries in the second term to secure the five tries-to-four win.
Newcastle’s halfback and captain is also a former Sky Blues Origin player, Melanie Howard, while the Knights forward pack has NSW Under 19s star Evah McEwen.
The Sea Eagles with three points moved into seventh spot on the ladder, which has a logjam of clubs from second to sixth all on four competition points – Illawarra Steelers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Dragons and defending Harvey Norman premiers, Mounties.
Only the top-four clubs move through to the finals.
Out in front on six points and the only undefeated team is Wentworthville Magpies, who had a comfortable 36-10 win over the Central Coast Roosters.
Fullback and captain Caitlin Turnbull scored a hat-trick - her eighth try in three games so far and followed a four-try package in the 38-10 win over Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Round Two.
The Magpies have now scored 110 points in the opening three rounds.
Round Four action this weekend coincides with the opening games of the 2024 NRLW season, where Harvey Norman clubs will act as the reserve grade sides for those 10 teams.
Click here for all Harvey Norman NSW Premiership results, draws.
