Updated: Raiders 40 defeat Rabbitohs 25
25 Aug 2008
The Canberra Raiders continued their charge towards the top of the NRL ladder when they defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 40 points to 25, with a stunning second half display destroying any chance the Rabbitohs had of taking home the two competition points.
The Rabbitohs led 19 points to six at half time, but the Raiders scored six second-half tries to steal the match from the clutches of the Rabbitohs.
A crowd of 10,128 got right behind the Rabbitohs from the opening whistle, but it was the Raiders who scored first when Adrian Purtell crossed for a four pointer.
The Rabbitohs levelled the scores at 6-all when Chris Sandow scored in the 17th minute. Sandow took the Raiders’ defensive line on himself to split the defence and score. Issac Luke converted to level the scores.
It was that man Issac Luke that scored the Rabbitohs second try when he stepped off his left foot twice to beat the Raiders defence and score in the 27th minute. Jamie Simpson set up the play with a long break, leading the Rabbitohs attacking in the Raiders’ 10 metre area. He converted his own try to give the home side a 12-6 lead.
That lead was extended in the 37th minute when Beau Champion crossed in the right hand corner. The try was set up by Nathan Merritt who took on the line and popped a lovely ball to Champion who raced 30 metres to score. Sandow converted from the sideline to give the Rabbitohs a 12-point advantage.
Sandow extended the lead by a further point when he slotted a 45 metre field goal in the final minute of the half.
The Rabbitohs were controlling the Raiders in all facets of the game, and it showed on the scoreboard. That was about to change in the second stanza.
The Raiders came out and scored six tries in 30 minutes to blow the Rabbitohs away. Tries to Joe Picker, 2009 Rabbitohs recruit Colin Best, Purtell, Brett Kelly, David Milne and Joel Monaghan, plus five goals from six attempts to Terry Campese gave the Raiders a 40-19 lead before the Rabbitohs could again trouble the scorers.
Winger Luke Capewell scored for the Rabbitohs in the 73rd minute after lock John Sutton made a break up the left hand side of the field. The conversion from Issac Luke took the scores to 40-25 and the game was over.
Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Taylor said: “I was really happy with the first half. Both teams did it tough and we held a great lead. In the second half a few things went their way and they played well to get away from us. Over all I was pretty happy with the performance.
“We came here to rip in like we did last week (against Manly) and I think we did that.”
Rabbitohs captain Roy Asotasi said: “We spoke at half time about coming out strong but we stopped talking and their forwards were making metres up the middle. We were a bit loose out there.
“We have plenty to work on before playing the Roosters on Friday night.”
The South Sydney Rabbitoh now move on to play the Roosters this Friday at 7:35pm at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Canberra Raiders 40 (Adrian Purtell 2, Joe Picker, Colin Best, Brett Kelly, David Milne, Joel Monaghan tries; Terry Campese 6 goals)
defeated
South Sydney Rabbitohs 25 (Chris Sandow, Issac Luke, Beau Champion, Luke Capewell tries; Issac Luke 3, Chris Sandow goals; Chris Sandow field goal)
CLICK PLAY ON THE VIDEO ABOVE TO SEE EXCLUSIVE SSTV FOOTAGE OF THE POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE.
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In the Toyota Cup, Eddie Paea racked up 16 points personally in the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 40 points to 28 victory over the Canberra Raiders.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 40 (James Segeyaro, Brad Lupi, Jake Leary, Michael Cummins, Dylan Farrell, Eddie Paea, Dave Tyrrell tries; Eddie Paea 6 goals)
defeated
Canberra Raiders 28 (Jarrod Croker, Jarrad Kennedy, Drury Low, Joel Thompson, Josh Dugan tries; Josh Dugan 4 goals)