Bulldogs 14 Defeat Rabbitohs 12
13 Apr 2009
The South Sydney Rabbitohs came within two points of knocking over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium tonight (Monday), going down to the home side 14 points to 12 in front of 22,775 Members and fans.
The Rabbitohs had the dream start to the game, with the Bulldogs kicking the ball dead from the opening kick off. The quick thinking of fullback Luke Capewell saw him catch the ball with one foot either side of the dead ball line, giving the Rabbitohs a penalty on halfway.
From the ensuing set, the Rabbitohs scored through returning centre Beau Champion. The ball was swung to the right, finding Champion about 10 metres from the line. Champion carried three defenders towards the line, reaching out and touching down on the goal line. Chris Sandow’s conversion gave the Rabbitohs a six-nil lead.
The Bulldogs struck back in the 21st and 24th minutes through Josh Morris and Andrew Ryan. Ryan’s try led to some controversy, with Ryan jamming his forearm into the throat of Issac Luke after he attempted to hold him up over the line. Luke pushed Ryan in the face, followed retaliation from Luke. The ensuing scuffle from a few players from each side saw Luke eventually being put on report.
The Rabbitohs defended stoutly in the opening quarter of the match, but dropped ball and missed opportunities saw them struggle to post points. The atrocious weather conditions did not help the Rabbitohs cause, who put themselves in numerous scoring positions.
Both sides attacked strongly in the opening minutes of the second half, and both teams defended just as well.
The Rabbitohs had a couple of attacking opportunities in the first ten minutes of the second half, and they also held out some repeat sets of Bulldogs’ attack.
Michael Ennis kicked a penalty goal in the 55th minute, giving the home side an eight-point advantage with 25 minutes left on the clock.
Ennis nearly scored a try in the 66th minute when he bustled over the line. He was denied by the video referee after Michael Hodgson pushed Issac Luke while he was attempting to hold Ennis up over the line.
The play continued to go from end-to-end, with both Clubs defending their line like their lives depended on it. The Rabbitohs were trying to find holes up the middle of the ruck, but the Bulldogs were working very hard to shut down the Rabbitohs little men in Luke, Wing and Sandow.
The Rabbitohs scored in the 74th minute through young tyro Eddy Pettybourne. The set prior, Sutton put up a towering torpedo bomb which was dropped by Matt Utai. It was a Sutton kick again, this time a grubber, which found Pettybourne for the try. Issac Luke converted to bring the Rabbitohs within two points of the home side.
The Rabbitohs threw everything at the Bulldogs in the final five minutes, in both attack and defence. Unfortunately for Rabbitohs Members and fans, they could not cross the line again, and the Bulldogs won a thriller 14-12.
The Rabbitohs forward pack tried hard all night, and the Rabbitohs backs were given opportunities to score. In terrible conditions, the handling suffered at times, but the game was a hard-fought affair by both teams.
The Rabbitohs move on to play the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles next Saturday night at ANZ Stadium at 7:30pm.
Bulldogs 14 (Josh Morris, Andrew Ryan tries; Hazem El Masri 2, Michael Ennis goals)
defeated
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 (Beau Champion, Eddy Pettybourne tries; Chris Sandow, Issac Luke goals)
In the Toyota Cup match, the Bulldogs defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 48 points to 18 at a soaking wet ANZ Stadium.
Rabbitohs outside back Kane Morgan scored a double in the first half, locking the scores up at 10-all. The Bulldogs then turned it on, scoring nine tries to the Rabbitohs’ four.
Bulldogs 54 (Pakisonasi Afu 2, Kele Niusere, Jamal Idris, Neenan Simpson, Ben Shea, Martin Taupau, Ben Barba, Joseph So’oalo, Keresoma Sione tries; Ben Barba 7 goals)
defeated
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18 (Kane Morgan 2, Tim Bennett, Jason Clark tries; Junior Vaivai goal)