Bulldogs Too Strong for Rabbitohs in Good Friday Clash

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

It was an uphill battle for South Sydney, who found themselves on the wrong end of the possession count 60%-40%.

This proved to be too much for the Rabbitohs to overcome, going down 32-0 in what was ultimately a frustrating afternoon for the Red and Green.

Canterbury-Bankstown opened the scoring when Josh Curran burrowed over from close range after a loose pass from South Sydney gave the Bulldogs a full set in the attacking zone.

The Rabbitohs were reduced to 12 men in the 18th minute, with Euan Aitken sent to the sin bin after he impeded Matt Burton off the ball. Stephen Crichton slotted the ensuing penalty, giving the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead.

South Sydney then suffered another setback, with Lachlan Hubner leaving the field after a head knock in the following set of six, to be replaced by Tallis Duncan.

The Bulldogs were able to make the most of their one-man advantage, with Max King breaking his 80-game try-scoring drought in the 26th minute off a crash play close to the line.

Aitken returned to the field in the 28th minute to put South Sydney back to their full complement. However, it wasn’t enough to stem the tide of the Bulldogs’ onslaught, with Sitili Tupouniua crossing after 33 minutes to put the score at 20-0 at the halftime break.

The Bulldogs began the second half where they left off in the first, with Jacob Preston muscling his way over in the 42nd minute.

Canterbury-Bankstown was afforded numerous opportunities throughout the second half thanks to a high error count from the Rabbitohs. However, they were unable to capitalise again until the 69th minute when Bronson Xerri scored to take his side past the 30-point mark.

This would prove to be the final scoring play of the game, leaving South Sydney to lick their wounds after the heavy defeat.

Match Snapshot

• The Bulldogs scored first through Josh Curran in the 11th minute.
• Euan Aitken was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul after impeding Matt Burton off the ball in the 18th minute.
• Stephen Crichton extended the Bulldogs’ lead with a penalty goal in the 19th minute.
• Max King was next to score for the Bulldogs, crossing in the 26th minute.
• The Bulldogs continued their onslaught, with Sitili Tupouniua scoring in the 34th minute.
• The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the second half through Jacob Preston in the 42nd minute.
• Bronson Xerri scored in the 69th minute to put the Bulldogs’ lead out to 32-0 in what was the final scoring play of the game.

What’s Next?

The Rabbitohs will travel south to Melbourne to take on the Storm on Anzac Day.