The South Sydney Rabbitohs women’s team have made it two from two to start the 2018 season, thrashing the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 46-8 in the first women's Rugby League game at ANZ Stadium in front of 15,000 proud Rabbitohs Members and supporters.
It didn’t take long for Souths to stamp their authority on the match. Fill in fullback Taleena Simon dazzled the opposition defence with an incredible 50-metre run to give the Rabbitohs a 4-0 lead.
The Red and Green had their next four pointer just moments later. In the 14th minute, Souths’ halfback Maddie Studdon walked through the Bulldogs defence close to the line to score her first try. The No. 7 easily added the extras to extend the Rabbitohs lead to 10-0.
It got even better for the Rabbitohs in the next set of six, with Karri Doyle scoring the Rabbitohs third try. The speedy winger planted the ball down right next to the posts after following up another Simon break.
Studdon nailed the conversion from in front to give Rabbitohs women a 16-0 lead after 23 minutes and, from then on it turned into the Simon and Studdon show. In the 28th minute, the fullback broke through the Bulldogs defence again, before offloading it to her halfback who raced away to score under the posts. Studdon converted her own try to give the Rabbitohs a 22-0 advantage.
The Rabbitohs had more chances to score before half-time but a desperate Bulldogs defence survived the further onslaught, keeping the score at 22-0 at the break.
The second half started exactly the same as the first, with the Rabbitohs in full control. Off the bench, Grace Uluiburotu scored in the 43rd minute with a barnstorming run close to the line. It was again easy work for the reliable boot of Studdon, who gave the Rabbitohs 28-0 lead.
Next to score for the Rabbitohs was lock Jasmin Allende, who proved too strong close to the line. Studdon again with a simple conversion to promote the Rabbitohs lead out to 34-0.
Allende then showed off her blistering speed in the 54th minute, pouncing on a Bulldogs mistake to run 90 metres untouched to score her second try. Studdon again adding two points to the Rabbitohs total to make it 40-0.
The Bulldogs would eventually get on the score sheet in the 64th minute, with centre Grace Clarke crossing over. The conversion attempt went just wide to leave the score at 40-4 in the Rabbitohs favour.
The Bulldogs would continue to put up a fight and Clarke again crossed the line to give the Blue and Whites their second try in the 75th minute.
However, the Rabbitohs would add the icing on the cake when Sharon McGrady weaved her way through the Bulldogs defence to score. Studdon again slotted the conversion in the final minute of the game to give the Rabbitohs a thoroughly deserved 46-8 victory on Good Friday.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 46
Maddie Studdon 2, Jasmin Allende 2, Taleena Simon, Karri Doyle, Grace Uluiburotu, Sharon McGrady tries; Studdon 7 goals
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 8
Grace Clarke 2 try
