Knights 25 defeat Rabbitohs 20
29 Jun 2009
The Newcastle Knights have defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 25 points to 20 at EnergyAustralia Stadium in Newcastle tonight (Monday), cementing their place in the top eight in front of 14,204 supporters.
A double to winger Jamie Simpson was not enough to get the Rabbitohs home on the night. The Rabbitohs led 12 points to six at half time, but three second-half tries to the home side saw them seal the win at home.
The game was played very tight early on, with both teams working the ball up the middle. The Knights dangerous when they sent the ball wide, with Jarrod Mullen controlling the play well. The home side’s dominance of the ball led to the first try of the game to winger Akuila Uate, who crossed in the left hand corner in the ninth minute. Hooker Isaac De Gois made the break that set up the try.
The Rabbitohs started to gain more possession and were making in-roads into the Knights’ defence. Captain Roy Asotasi was making plenty of metres and bent the line a couple of times, also offering up offloads that led to breaks.
The Rabbitohs scored their first try in the 23rd minute through lock-forward Michael Crocker. Off the back of a repeat set, the ball went right through Chris Sandow, Issac Luke and then to Crocker, who showed some smart footwork ten metres out from the line to step through and score. Luke converted the try to give the visitors a six-four lead.
The Rabbitohs were on fire in attack, with Merritt breaking the line in the 25th minute, only to see a try-scoring opportunity get bombed a couple of plays later.
The Rabbitohs scored their second try in the 29th minute through flying winger Jamie Simpson. A clever kick behind the line from Sandow allowed Simpson to regather and scoot around under the posts, setting up the easy conversion for Luke to give South Sydney an eight-point advantage.
A penalty goal to Kurt Gidley after the half time siren finished the scoring at 12-6 in favour of the Rabbitohs at the break.
Rabbitohs forward leaders Roy Asotasi, Michael Crocker and Luke Stuart were very strong in the opening 40 minutes for Souths, setting the platform and providing attacking opportunities at times for their outside backs.
The Knights struck first in the second half, when Richard Fa’aoso made the decision to straighten the Knights defence and charge over from close range in the 48th minute. Gidley’s conversion levelled the scores at 12-all.
A lifting tackle on Colin Best, and the ensuing dropped ball, led to the Knights next try, with Keith Lulia scoring in the right hand corner. Gidley converted to give the Knights six-point advantage with just over a quarter of the match remaining.
In the 59th minute, Steve Simpson who was playing his 200th first grade game, scored a try on the right hand side of the field, after a long break from well inside their own half. Gidley’s sideline conversion gave Newcastle a 24-12 lead with 19 minutes remaining.
Mullen put the game beyond doubt for the Knights in the 74th minute, slotting a field goal from in front to extend his side’s lead to 13 points.
The Rabbitohs scored a try in the 77th minute when second-rower David Fa’alogo crossed in the left hand corner. A break by Sandow set up the try.
In the final minute, Simpson scored his second when the Rabbitohs threw the ball around, but it was all too late for the men in red and green.
Captain Roy Asotasi was outstanding for South Sydney, making 30 tackles and running for over 100 metres in an inspired performance. Michael Crocker and Luke Stuart also led from the front for the Rabbitohs.
South Sydney moves on to play the Wests Tigers this Saturday 4 July at 5:30pm at ANZ Stadium
Newcastle Knights 25 (Akuila Uate, Richard Fa’aoso, Keith Lulia, Steve Simpson tries; Kurt Gidley 4 goals; Jarrod Mullen field goal)
defeated
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 (Jamie Simpson 2, Michael Crocker, David Fa’alogo tries; Issac Luke 2 goals)
In the Toyota Cup match, the South Sydney Rabbitohs exacted revenge on the Newcastle Knights running out comfortable 36 points to 16 victors at EnergyAustralia Stadium in Newcastle.
Nathan Peats and Malcolm Webster both scored doubles to help the Rabbitohs erase the memories of their round three loss to the Knights which saw the Novocastrians mount a stunning second half comeback in Gosford.
Malcolm Webster weaved his magic on a number of occasions, with the Rabbitohs forwards making good metres all night, led by captain Jason Clark. The Rabbitohs’ forwards set the platform for the backs, with Webster, Adam Reynolds, Junior Vaivai and Kane Morgan looking particularly dangerous with the ball in hand.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 36 (Nathan Peats 2, Malcolm Webster 2, Cameron Pitman, Kane Morgan, Junior Vaivai tries; Junior Vaivai 3, Adam Reynolds goals)
defeated
Newcastle Knights 16 (Aaron Fairweather, Byron Fruean, Zane Tetevano tries; Peter Mata’utia 2 goals)