The Newcastle Knights recorded a 20-17 win over the Manly Sea Eagles in their third and final pool match of the 2015 Auckland Nines, young hooker Adam Clydsdale scoring a late try to guarantee his side a place in the quarter-finals.
The Knights could have secured first points but Dane Gagai fumbled a clever ball from Sione Mata'utia in the second minute with the try-line begging.
Manly looked certain to punish this mistake with Daly Cherry-Evans chasing a strong kick through the middle, only for Tyrone Roberts to stand tall and make the crucial intercept.
The Knights were unable to complete any of their following sets though, and the Sea Eagles made them pay in the 6th minute with a five-point try to prop Blake Leary. Clint Gutherson converted to push the score to 7-0.
Utility Tyler Randell struck back for the Knights a minute later, twisting and turning to touch down on the right side.
Jarrod Mullen was unable to convert, but with seconds left to half time, Roberts showed quick reflexes to clamp down on an attempted kick from Manly winger Tony Satini and run thirty metres to score. Roberts couldn't convert his sideline try, the score 8-7 to the Knights as the half-time siren sounded.
Two minutes into the second half Sione Mata'utia picked up where he left off in 2014, collecting a slick pass from Korbin Sims to score.
Roberts converted to make the score 14-7 to the Knights with eight minutes to play.
Despite video replays showing he was held up by Mullen, former Knight Braden Wiliame was awarded a try two minutes later.
Gutherson nailed the conversion to make the score 14-13, and then scored himself thirty seconds later in the right corner.
Gutherson was unable to convert this time and the Knights found themselves 17-14 down with two minutes to play.
With his side desperate for the points required to progress to the knock-out stage, young hooker Clydsdale showed a clean pair of heels to the Manly defence to put the ball down on the left side and effectively win the game for his side.
Mullen converted to make the final score 20-17 to the Knights.
TEAM: S Mata'utia, Mamo, Mullen, Gagai, Roberts, Tapine, Sims, Vaivai, Clydsdale. Bench: Randell, Levi, Rochow, Stockwell, P Mata'utia.
The Knights play the second quarter final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at 12.55pm AEDT (2.25pm local).
