The South Sydney Rabbitohs have gone down to the Sydney Roosters 14 points to seven in the second of their 2017 Auckland Nines Hunua Pool matches at Eden Park this afternoon (Saturday).
As was the case in the first game of the tournament against the Raiders, ill-discipline cost the Rabbitohs time with the ball in hand which cost the men in red and green come full time.
The Rabbitohs started proceedings and great defence early meant the Roosters were held at bay for two consecutive sets on the South Sydney line, something virtually unheard of in Nines football.
It would take six minutes before the Roosters would score with Paul Momirovski crossing off the back of a number of offloads.
Connor Watson scored in the dying moments of the first half, beating just one defender to score and take the score line to eight-nil in favour of the Roosters at half time.
Souths struck back in the 12th minute of play with Damien Cook racing 50 metres up the middle of the field to score a bonus try. Cook converted his own try to reduce the deficit to one point.
The Rabbitohs had the momentum and a brilliant 40/20 kick from Braidon Burns put the Rabbitohs on the front foot. However three moments of ill-discipline thwarted any chance the Rabbitohs had of posting the points they needed, and a fairly soft try to Daniel Tupou in the last minute of the game, plus a conversion to Latrell Mitchell, gave the Roosters the win.
The Rabbitohs are now out of contention to qualify for the quarter finals of the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines, even if they defeat the North Queensland Cowboys in their final pool match tomorrow (Sunday).
Sydney Roosters 14 (Paul Momirovski, Connor Watson, Daniel Tupou tries; Latrell Mitchell goal)
defeated
South Sydney Rabbitohs 7 (Damien Cook bonus try; Damien Cook goal)
Previous Hunua Pool match results:
North Queensland Cowboys 27 defeated Sydney Roosters 15
Canberra Raiders 15 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
North Queensland Cowboys 35 defeated Canberra Raiders 6
Auckland Nines Hub
