The South Sydney Rabbitohs NYC side went down 32-12 to the Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium on Sunday afternoon despite a strong second half performance.
The Knights were quick to land the first points for the day when a battle for ball possession in goal saw the Knights Tyrone Amey beat the Rabbitohs defender and score in the third minute. The Knights conversion was successful and the home side led six points to nil.
The Knights were there again to add another four-pointer when an almost replicate set play saw Amey jump on another loose ball in goal and led to the front rower’s second try for the game. Nick Newman had an easy shot right in front of goal and slotted the conversion through the uprights.
The home side were quick to impress their old boy’s crowd at Hunter Stadium and extended their lead further through two converted tries by Zac Hosking bringing the Knights 24 points in front.
Within minutes before half time, the Rabbitohs responded and hooker Phoenix Hunt found the try line through a gap in the Knights defence. Chad O’Donnell successfully converted.
The Rabbitohs once again narrowed the gap when Campbell Graham picked up a cross field bomb on the right side of the field and with quick footwork found the try line as the hooter sounded for half time. The Rabbitohs went into the sheds trailing 12 points to 24.
The second half saw the Knights strike first through Kainoa Gudgeon with a try scored in the right hand corner. The Rabbitohs placed immense pressure on the Knights defence but the side struggled to capitalise on their chances.
Although possession was in the Rabbitohs favour in the second half, the side couldn’t catch the fierce Newcastle team who awarded their second try to Gudgeon on full time.
Newcastle Knights 32 (Tyrone Amey 2, Zac Hosking 2, Kainoa Gudgeon 2 tries; Nick Newman 4 goals)
Defeated
Rabbitohs 12 (Phoenix Hunt 1, Campbell Graham 1 tries; Chad O’Donnell 2 goals)
