Resilient Rabbitohs pluck Roosters

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have kept their perfect record in tact with an exciting 34-26 defeat of local rivals the Sydney Roosters in front of 27,286 fans at ANZ Stadium this afternoon.

Both sets of fans were packed in, wearing full colours to watch one of League's oldest rivalries and it didn't disappoint. In a topsy turvy match that went end-to-end it was the ultimate spectacle for Rugby League fans everywhere.

The scoring was opened up by Souths who touch downed through exciting youngster Dylan Walker. After collecting an inside pass from Luke Keary he manged to twist his body and plant the ball behind his head on the try line. His try had Souths fans jumping for joy and they didn't have to wait long to cheer again. On 13 minutes Greg Inglis took a tame grubber deep in his own in goal by Roosters half back Mitchell Pearce and beat three players before putting Winger Alex Johnston into space. Johnston raced 80 metres unhampered to the try line. Souths had opened up a 12-0 lead in less than a quarter of an hour.

However, the Roosters were soon back in it. Capitalising on some sloppy defence, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's swift hands sent Daniel Tupou over in the corner. The NSW representative showed great poise to avoid the touchline. Maloney's conversion was unsuccessful and the score remained 12-4.

Off the next set the Roosters raced 60 metres downfield and a Mitchell Pearce bomb was left to bounce by Joel Reddy into the waiting arms of Tupou who sent his inside Michael Jennings under the posts to narrow the scoreline to 12-10.

The momentum continued for the Bondi Junction club as a smart tackle from James Maloney jolted the ball free from Isaac Luke on the half way line, the loose ball was scooped up by Jennings who evaded two defenders on his way to a 50 metre run downfield and his second try of the day. An injury scare to Adam Reynolds sent a tremor through ANZ stadium and his Souths side conceded 16 points in the short time that he was off the field. Maloney's successful conversion made it 16-12 and it stayed like this until half time despite lots of end to end action.

The Roosters came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and extended their lead to 10 points via a strong barge over from interchange forward Dylan Napa. Napa took three defenders with him and seemed to find the try line with ease.

At 22-12 Souths had their back against the wall but their never say die attitude was evident for all to see in the next 30 minutes.
After some spirited defence big bopper George Burgess crashed over the stripe despite the attention of 3 Roosters defenders to trim the margin back to 4 points.

However less than 10 minutes later the Roosters had got the lead back to 8 points. Another swift backline movement saw Aiden Guerra send Shaun Kenny-Dowell over in the corner. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck again show great poise in being involved in the set up of the place, coming in as first receiver. Maloney's unsuccessful conversion left the score at 26-18. These would be the last points that the Roosters would score for the rest of the afternoon.

3 minutes later, Luke Keary showed great strength to bust up the middle out of nothing, and he found Johnston in support to score under the posts. Reynold's conversion made it 26-24.

On 68 minutes the Rabbitohs took the lead for the first time since the 13th minute after some dynamic work by Keary and Reynold's in the halves. Keary threw three dummies and later on in the same play Reynold's wrestled away from both Jared Waerea Hargreaves and Michael Jennings to send winger Joel Reddy over in the corner. At 28-26 with ten minutes left we were in for a grandstand finish.

Both sides threw everything at each other in the last 10 minutes and the result was only sealed in the 80th minute when Souths hooker Isaac Luke barged over some tired Roosters defenders to score next to the posts. Reynold's put the icing on the cake with the conversion to complete a satisfying 34-26 win for the home side.

In a match that could be shortlisted for game of the season the 27, 286 at ANZ Stadium were given a real treat

The Roosters will go back to the drawing board and look to get back on track next week against the red hot Panthers at Allianz Stadium, whilst the Rabbitohs will have another home match this time against a youthful Wests Tigers outfit.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (34)
Tries: Dylan Walker, Alex Johnston (2), George Burgess, Joel Reddy, Issac Luke
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/6)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (26)
Tries: Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings (2), Dylan Napa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Conversions: James Maloney (3/5)

Hello and welcome and to ANZ Stadium for this blockbuster clash between the reigning Premiers the South Sydney Rabbitohs and their arch rivals and local rivals the Sydney Roosters. This is set to be a cracking game!
First off just some late changes to report. For Souths, Chris McQueen will start with Ben Lowe reverting back to the bench. The roosters are 1-17

The crowd is starting to slowly build up as well here at Homebush.
Both sides are fresh off convincing wins. The home side dismantled Brisbane in Brisbane 36-6, whilst the Roosters weren't too shabby either. Outclassing the Cowboys 28-4 in Townsville.
Roosters will be desperate for revenge as well, after being knocked out of the 2014 Title race last year by the Rabbitohs in the Grand Final Qualifier. This game always has a lot of passion and I'm not expecting anything different today!

Currently 22 Degrees at ANZ, comfortable conditions for the players. Light breeze South East.

About 10 mins away from kick off here. Get comfy and get ready!

Well here come the teams! I'm Jack Clifton and I'll be bringing you the next 80 minutes! This will be fun!

Well here come the teams! I'm Jack Clifton and I'll be bringing you the next 80 minutes! This will be fun!

Kick off! Roosters have first use of the football

1: Strong set by the Roosters, including two big carries by Sam Moa, Pearce kicks high on the last and fielded comfortably by Inglis

2: Tuivasa-Sheck with a wonderful take under pressure after a good attacking set by Souths

3: Despite only being 30 m out, Pearce does a bizarre chip to the corner which Johnston takes easily under no pressure and runs it out for the tap. Roosters are then pinged for offside. Poor play there from the Bondi boys

3: Souths on the attack!

4: Jennings hammered by Burgess after a chip from Reynolds, grounded in goal. Drop out. Souths get a repeat set.

6: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Walker. Kick to come.
Walker gets through a hole after a nice little inside ball from Keary who in turn got a nice ball from Stewart. Walker stretches out and puts the ball behind his head and on the try line! amazing effort.

6: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Easy kick from next to the posts, 6-0 to Souths.

7: Another solid set from the Roosters, Maloney puts it high but again Inglis is more than equal to the task with a nice take, rabbitohs getting a nice roll on and plenty of metres

10: End to end stuff at the moment. Both sides making plenty of metres.

11: Big hit alert!! Moa crunches Keary with a hard hit, poor Keary! Great weigh discrepancy there!

13: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
This is marvellous from Souths!! The Roosters are on the attack with a chip into the ingoal, Inglis says "nah mate, i'm not giving you a line dropout", pushes away from Mciilwrick and two others, sends Johnstone away down the left flank and goes 80 metres downfield to touch down, Really really sublime football there from Soutrhs, greatness from GI

13: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds keep his perfect record in tact, nice kick from under the posts.

14: 109 Metres that try from Souths. Greg Inglis you are a freak! Great pace shown from Johnston too.

15: Roosters can't drop their heads either. They haven't been too bad. Two great pieces of play from the Redfern boys

16: roosters again make plenty of metres to get down in South's territory but again a other poor last tackle option sees Inglis mark it in goal and take it out for the 20m tap

18: The Roostyers hang around in the play the ball far too long and are penalised justly. Souths get the ball on half way. More points?

21: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.
Roosters are back. Great passing from RTS and Jennings, sees Tupu scamper over in the corner. They needed that the Roosters. Great lead up play

21: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Kick is to the lefty and doesn't shape back. No Good, 12-4 Souths

23: All while that has been happening, we also need to report that Reynolds has been taken to the Sheds with an injury, doesn't look Good.
Grevsmuhl comes on and Sutton to the Halves

23: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
There in again! Calamity at the back by Reddy, he waits anxiously for it but lets it bounce! Its recovered by Cordner who passes inside to Jennings who slides in next tot the posts! Roosters are finding their groove.

23: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
All good by maloney, 12-10

23: Sorry that last pass was Tupou not Cordner

28: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
Maloney slaps the arm of Luke on halfway and he drops it, picked up by Jennings who races through and you can shut the gate!! This is a phenomenal comeback by the Roosters. 14-12 up now after being down 12-0 less than 10 minutes ago!

28: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Too good Maloney! It's now 16-12, what a turnaround!

26: How will Souths react without Reynolds? it's been 10-0 to the Roosters since he has left the field

32: Big up and under again by the Roosters, Reddy drops it in the in goal backwards and it goes dead. More Pressure for Souths. Reddy doesn't look like he's having much fun

34: Oh deary me! After a line break by Aubusson, the ball finds it way out to Kenny-Dowall and he knock it on over the line!

35: A lovely little kick into the air is so close to being grounded by Walker! 20m restart for the Roosters and they get a let off there

36: A towering bomb is taken very well by Reddy and now Souths have a chance to work it out from their own end

36: Forward pass by Souths! Reddy is the culprit. Roosters ball on halfway

38: Penalty to the Roosters for a strip. 20 metres out! Roosters probing

39: Desperate defence here by Souths!

39: Johnston knocks it dead after a smart grubber by Maloney.

39: A try here for the Roosters would be very very handy

40: SKD is grounded with the ball 10m out as the siren sounds in the background, didn't appear to know it was so close to half time.
That's half time folks. It was all Souths early before the Roosters got some luck and pout on 16 unanswered points.
16-12 the HT score in a thrilling and exciting match so far. Please rejoin us in 10 minutes for the second half

40: For those Fantasy Heads out there. Glenn Stewart leading the tackle count for the Rabbitohs with 24 tackles followed by George Burgess with 22.
For the Roosters Hargreaves has 24 and Cordner with 22.

40: Here come both the teams for the second half, still anyone's game at 16-12

40: Roosters kick off and Souths get the ball first in the second half

41: Reynold's kicks it out on the full on the last! Bad mistake here. Roosters get the ball 40m out.

42: On the last the Roosters spread it to the right and Maloney dribbles it in behind and Souths have to knock it dead. Drop out. Very smart play there from Maloney

43: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Dylan Napa. Kick to come.
Napa carries three defenders with him on a barnstorming and crashes over! The Roosters score their 4th try of the afternoon and don't their fans love it!

43: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
No issues for Maloney. Straight between the sticks. 22-12 to the Sydney Roosters

45: Nice scoot from Aubusson picks up a cheeky 15 metres. Two tackles later Guerra has the ball stripped and get a penalty. On the attack again here the Bondi Boys

46: Some very strong defence makes Evans cough it up 5m away. Vital stop there from Souths. Jason Clark the main contributor

47: What can Souths do now? Haven't had the ball in a while...

48: Penalty to Souths only 30 metres out. Pearce gets pinged for lifting the legs.

49: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by George Burgess. Kick to come.
Try! George Burgess comes up with the goods here and don't Souths need it. He carries the ball forward and bounces off three defenders and his momentum carries him to the line.

50: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Kick is successful

50: This game is tit for tat. Great to see on a Sunday arvo!

51: 40/20 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Adam Reynolds kicks a 40/20.
Reynold's comes up with a big time play, nailing a glorious 40/20 and now Souths have the feed 10m out!

52: Oh Boy! This is so close, Burgess (George) drives his legs and takes 4 defenders with him but looses the ball half a metre from the try line! So Close. Roosters scrum 10m out from their own line

54: Souths get a 6 more call on half way, after Inglis pass is batted down. More pressure to absorb for the Roosters

56: They run it on the last and send it out to Dylan Walker, Roosters slide well through Jennings and Walker's flick pass goes into touch.
On the first tackle Souths get a little too enthusiastic and are penalised. Relieving penalty for The Roosters

56: We're going upstairs for the video ref for the Roosters. Just checking obstruction

56: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
RTS gets into first receiver and finds space for Guerra who sends an unmarked Kenny-Dowell into the corner to score. He doesn't drop that one! 26-18!

58: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Maloney's kick is waved away to the left, no good. Score stays 26-18

60: 20 minutes to go and still anyone's game, 8 points isn't much in this topsy turvy game.

61: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Keary busts through with a great show of strength and speed, sends Johnson away under the posts! Smart play from the five eighth!

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynold's takes the conversion quickly and successfully! 26-24

63: A bit of a dust up here in the play the ball! Jared Waerea Hargreaves is in the middle!
Souths get a penalty, could that be costly??

64: Reynold's kicks it high, the Roosters let it bounce but they somehow recover it, lucky.

64: Blake Ferguson is nursing his shoulder in the backfield along with the trainer.

65: Lots of passion in this contest now. Hargreaves is everywhere!
Burgess loses the ball after a great tackle but James Maloney! Great stuff from the little man

66: Roosters have made 2 errors this afternoon, Souths with 6

66: Roosters on the attack, 20m out...

67: Maloney kicks pinpoint to the corner, Tupou leaps high but it bounces off his chest and dead in goal.

69: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Joel Reddy. Kick to come.
Souths are in! Something from nothing. Keary throws three dummies, send it to Burgess (George) finds it to Reynolds who wrestles out of a tackle by Jennings and Hargreaves and floats it to Reddy who bounces over in the Corner! The Burrow is going mad!

70: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Kick is no good, just away to the right. Two point game and there's still 10 minutes left!

71: Punishing defence from Souths here, driving the Roosters back with every opportunity

73: Lovely take by SKD under the high kick, Roosters will attempt to work it out from their own end

74: Get Out Of The Way! Burgess sends Pearce flying! Great carry!

74: Error by Souths! How big could this be, Sutton tries the no look pass but it goes forward!

75: Roosters have the ball 40 m out

76: Frantic defence from Souths, the Roosters play hot potato. On the last Maloney's kick is high but it finds it way to bounce dead in goal.
4n mins left!

77: Now Souths on the attack after another strong carry by George Burgess

77: Knock on by Souths on the last after Reynolds puts a deft little grubber. Change over.
On first tackle Tupou knocks it on! Could this be the ball game? Scrum 10m out for Souths

79: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Issac Luke. Kick to come.
That's the ball game folks! Issac Luke crashes over from Dummy half and the poor old Roosters just can't get enough bodies there. Too strong Isaac Luke.

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds puts the icing on the cake with the conversion. 34-26

80: Well that's full time folks, what a game it has been! The Rabbitohs get home in this one 34-26 in the back of a great performance by Luke Keary and barnstorming efforts by George Burgess and Glenn Stewart in the pack. Some sublime attacking football on show this afternoon.
The roosters can be proud of their effort today too, no shame in defeat to this very good South Sydney Team.
Thanks for joining me and following League Unlimited's coverage, this is me Jack Clifton Signing off. Make sure to follow League Unlimited's coverage of the Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors from 6.30pm!