The Tamworth Thunderbolts overcame an early three-point onslaught to score a 87-66 win over Manly-Warringah on Saturday at the Tamworth Sports Dome.
A breakaway lay-up from Matt Monckton 12 seconds into the clash kicked off the scoring, much to the approval of the home crowd, before the Sea Eagles silenced the roars of the Bolts’ faithful.
Manly hit three consecutive threes – through Timothy Hill (2) and Joshua Collier (1) – before Bolt Rashanti Harris hit a two.
Collier then sunk another three to see the score sit at 12-4 in favour of the Sea Eagles.
But the Thunderbolts rumbled back into the game and hit the front three minutes into the second quarter.
They would hold that lead until the final whistle.
By half-time, Tamworth had taken an eight-point lead which blew out to 17 points at three-quarter time.
Harris topped the scoring for the Thunderbolts with 27 points while veteran Chris Skilton wasn’t far behind with 22 points.
The Thunderbolts also won in the women’s competition match at the Dome on Saturday.
Tamworth took on the Newcastle Hunters and won 56-50.
