|
 The
St George – Illawarra Dragons have once
again notched up fifty points for the second
successive week as they cruised to a 52-12
victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs in
front of a big crowd at the Sydney Cricket
Ground today.
The
Dragons - playing a near perfect game early
on - were simply too strong, too fast and
too smart as they notched up 32 unanswered
points in 25 minutes.
The
Rabbitohs were struggling to find any possession
and territory as they struggled to catch Trent
Barrett’s and Matthew Head’s blitzkrieg
raid from their boots, and often struggled
to tackle the Dragons bigger and faster back
five.
South
Sydney answered the call in the last ten minutes
of the first half scoring two tries before
the half time siren rang throughout the SCG.
At
half time it was 32-12
The
Rabbitohs put the pressure on the Dragons
in the second half but came up empty handed
as Saints ran in another 20 points.
St George – Illawarra went on cruise
mode in the last 30 minutes skipping away
to victory with four second half tries.
So
what now for the Dragons? Hopefully a chance
to test their strength against one of the
benchmarks in the Sydney Roosters after the
final Origin match.
The
Rabbitohs are still hovering around the bottom
of the ladder and not much hope for change
before next year.
Sydney
Cricket Ground
Referee: Tony Archer
Video Referee: Graeme West
Touch Judges: Paul Kalina, Paul Holland
Scorers:
RABBITOHS 12
Tries: Williams, Hookey
Goals: Williams 2/2
defeated by
DRAGONS 52
Tries: Hornby 2, Simmonds 2, Cooper 2, Gasnier,
Thompson, Kite, Creagh
Goals: Head 5/9, Riddell 1/1
By
the clock:
It's
back to the future for the NRL as two of the
more popular NRL sides go head to head for
this Round 16 clash at the Sydney Cricket
Ground.
A big crowd welcomes out both sides.
0
min: Rabbitohs kick off.
4
min: Try - Dragons. The Dragons regather the
ball from a bomb, Mark Riddell throws a big
pass to an unmarked Mark Gasnier to score
the first points of the day. Matthew Head
converts. 6-0 Dragons
7
min: Try - Dragons. The Dragons put up a bomb,
Gasnier batters it back into the hands of
Lance Thompson to score. Heads conversion
attempt goes wide. 10-0 Dragons
8
min: News - Dragons are unlucky not to have
scored from another aerial raid, the bounce
of the ball lets them down.
15
min: News - The Dragons are starting this
game where they left off last week, The Dragons
halves are putting a huge ammount of pressure
with several bombs targetting South Sydneys
back three.
16
min: Try - Dragons. Following a excellent
break Trent Barrett throws a nothing pass
to nobody, Reece Simmonds picks it up and
places the ball on the chalk. Head converts.
16-0 Dragons
19
min: Try - Dragons. The Dragons spread it
wide, Matthew Head throws a short pass to
Brent Kite who runs through a gaping hole
to score. Head converts. 22-0 Dragons
22
min: Try - Dragons. Mark Gasnier makes a break,
he offloads to Trent Barrett who throws it
over his head to Ben Hornby to score. Head
converts. Another thrashing is on the cards!
28-0 Dragons
23
min: News - Another break by the Dragons backs,
John Carlaw puts a boot to it near the line
but it's far too strong.
26
min: Try - Dragons. Following a Rabbitohs
error, Trent Barrett throws an offload to
Ben Hornby who runs onto the ball at speed
to score his second try. Heads conversion
attempt goes wide. 32-0 Dragons
30
min: News - Very impressive display by the
Dragons. They look dangerous every single
time their back 5 run with the ball.
South Sydney simply cant get any possesion
and are easily shrugged off when attempting
to tackle the speedy St George - Illawarra
backs.
33
min: Try - Rabbitohs. South Sydney are forced
to run it on the last, winger Wes Tillott
offloaded the ball as Owen Craigie put a boot
to it, Joe Williams whos in support bounces
on the ball before it went dead. Williams
converts. 32-6 Dragons
36
min: Try - Rabbitohs. Joe Williams breaks
the line, he attracts in three Dragons defenders
before launching a pass to Lee Hookey. Williams
converts. 32-12 Dragons
38
min: News - Lance Thompson looks to have to
rolled his ankle as he is assisted by the
Dragons trainers off the field.
Half
time: The Dragons have just eased off for
the last 10 minutes of this half but it's
still been a superb effort by this St George
- Illawarra side most notably by their backs.
South Sydney have hit back in the last 10
minutes but I cant see this ending in anything
more than a cricket score.
32 - 12 St George - Illawarra are leading
at the break.
Penalties:
Rabbitohs 2 Dragons 3
Completions: Rabbitohs 13/16 Dragons 18/21
Mistackles: Rabbitohs 30 Dragons 7
Errors: Rabbitohs 4 Dragons 3
Possesion: Rabbitohs 44% Dragons 56%
40
min: Dragons kick off.
42
min: News - David Thompson knocks the ball
on right next to the chalk.
45
min: News - John Carlaw is unlikely to be
used again today as he is suffering from a
strained side.
50
min: Try - Dragons. On the last tackle the
Dragons spread it wide resulting in Reece
Simmonds scoring in the corner. Head converts.
38-12 Dragons
54
min: News - An intercept attempt by Ben Creagh
goes to ground.
59
min: Try - Dragons. Matthew Head puts in a
short kick, Lincoln Withers gathers the ball
and passes out wide bouncing nicely for Matthew
Cooper who simply passes it to an unmarked
Ben Creagh. Head's conversion attempt goes
wide. 42-12 Dragons
65
min: News - A much improved effort by South
Sydney in the second half but have been let
down when in good territory.
66
min: News - The Dragons knock it on near the
line.
71
min: Try - Dragons. Lovely work by the Dragons
moving the ball out wide, Matt Cooper finishes
off the play by cutting back inside ducking
and weaving through several Green and Red
jumpers. Head cant convert the try. 46-12
Dragons
77
min: Try - Dragons. The Dragons the line through
the short side again, Lincoln Withers linked
up with Matt Cooper well to notch up a half-century
of points. Mark Riddell converts. 52-12 Dragons
79
min: News - Shaun Timmins puts in a chip kick,
it bounces u perfectly for Lincoln Withers
but he fumbles it with no body in front of
him.
Full
time: They shocked the Rabbitohs early and
skipped to victory on cruise mode.
An easy win but it still impressed most people
at the historic SCG.
St George - Illawarra win the match 52-12
Penalties:
Rabbitohs 4 Dragons 5
Completions: Rabbitohs 22/35 Dragons 32/41
Mistackles: Rabbitohs 49 Dragons 13
Errors: Rabbitohs 14 Dragons 11
Possesion: Rabbitohs 47% Dragons 53%
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - M Head (Dragons)
2 - T Barrett (Dragons)
1 - M Gasnier (Dragons)
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