The young Rabbitohs have won their fifth consecutive match, beating the Gold Coast Titans 26-18 at ANZ Stadium tonight (Friday).
The Titans made it clear they were here to play with a crunching tackling on Lebanese Representative halfback Adam Doueihi in the 3rd minute.
The Rabbitohs found themselves under plenty of Titans pressure in the following sets – Beau Cordtz caught in goal after an impressive scramble kept their opposition scoreless.
However, the young Rabbitohs rallied and found themselves with good field position in the 8th minute to force the Titans into consecutive goal line dropouts.
Despite this, the Rabbitohs would concede first points to the Gold Coast Titans after a quick shift to the right of field gave Jake Sparey plenty of space to easily finish in the corner. Ethan Roberts would convert and the Titans would be up 6-0 after 13 minutes.
The Titans would gift the Rabbitohs an opportunity to get straight back into the game after knocking on from the kick off but Souths couldn’t convert. It took until the 20th minute for the Rabbitohs to get back into the contest after Adam Doueihi went through the middle of the Titans to score under the posts and convert his own effort.
Flying Rabbitohs winger Jake Reweti would snatch the lead for the young Rabbitohs in the 33rd minute, creating an overlap and carrying the ball 17 metres to score in the left corner. The conversion attempt would prove too difficult for Doueihi and the Rabbitohs would lead 10-6.
Blake Manowski would further the Rabbitohs advantage just before the half time siren, darting from dummy half to catch the Titans defenders out of position. Doueihi converted this kick and the Rabbitohs headed into the sheds with a 16-6 lead over the visitors.
The young Rabbitohs started strongly in the second half but despite dominating the opening 10 minutes could not capitalise on their field position.
This would prove costly for Souths as the Titans got a foothold in the game, giving Jake Sparey room on the right edge to claim his second try of the night. Ethan Roberts converted for the extras and the Titans would sit four points adrift at 16-12 after 52 minutes.
Emotions would boil over in the 55th minute and a scuffle erupted in the middle of the field that stopped play for several minutes. With the penalty going the way of the Titans, the Gold Coast youth squad would capitalise on their opportunity to bag another try by Ethan Roberts. He converted his own effort and the Titans snatched the lead 18-16 after 62 minutes.
The Rabbitohs would be motivated by this change in lead and throw everything at the Gold Coast Titans; finally finding the breakthrough as fullback Beau Cordtz swept into the attack on the left side of field to punch through the Titans line and score.
Gabe Hamlin would put the result beyond doubt in the 74th minute, the Rabbitohs again targeting the left edge to get over the line. Doueihi couldn’t convert and the Rabbitohs would lead 24-18.
A late penalty goal to Adam Doueihi in the 78th minute would be the cherry on top of a solid performance.
Souths 26 (Adam Doueihi, Jake Reweti, Blake Manowski, Beau Cordtz, Gabe Hamlin tries; Adam Doueihi 2 goals, Adam Doueihi Penalty goal)
defeated
Titans 18 (Jake Sparey 2, Ethan Roberts tries; Ethan Roberts 3 goals)
