Depleted Tigers trounce tired Rabbitohs

The Wests Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs kicked off the Men of League Heritage round with a physical encounter at the Sydney Football Stadium, taken out by the Wests Tigers 30 points to 6 in front of 22,677 fans.

South Sydney started well, scoring first points on the back of a Tigers error in the in the 5th minute. Points came through a try from Chris Sandow after some great barraging work from captain Roy Asotasi. Sandow proceeded to convert his own try and remained the only name on the scoreboard until the 17th minute.

The Tigers began to dominate play only minutes after the Sandow try, but it was only converted into points on the back of some South Sydney errors. Benji Marshall grabbed the ball off the back of the scrum and sidestepped some flimsy defence, dashed to the line to score a try and level the game with his boot.

The home side continued to dominate play, but only took the lead on the scoreboard late in the half with a try to fullback Wade McKinnon off a Robbie Farah break which put him in under the posts. The try was easily converted by Marshall and the Tigers took the 6 point lead into halftime.

Wests came out in the second half with all the energy, dominated the play early and converted it into a ten point lead within ten minutes with tries to Mitch Brown and Simon Dwyer, all the while Marshall stamping his authority over the game.

Souths were given some opportunities in the ensuing minutes but they looked too fatigued to pull off anything and the Tigers defence easily answered all they had to offer. To make matters worse for their tired defence Souths were forced to make their 9th interchange in the 55th minute following an injury to Luke Stuart.

Next points came the way of the hosts with a penalty goal in the 65th minute which they took to put themselves 3 converted tries ahead and the game all but out of reach for a very tired Rabbitohs side. Souths were given plenty of possession in optimal field position but weren't able to offer a thing in attack.

The Wests Tigers, however, weren't done scoring. In the 71st minute Marshall put Dwyer in for his second with a no-look pass, then proceeded to convert it. Marshall was not done getting his name on the match stats, conceding a penalty in the 75th minute which earnt him an early shower in the Sin Bin.

Benji's side left plenty of time for some consolation points to Souths against a 12 man defensive line, but the Bunnies still could not penetrate the Tigers goalline despite being camped in their danger zone. The hosts held firm across the field to take the game 30 points to 6.

Match Details
Wests Tigers 30 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 6
National Rugby League - Round 5 (Heritage Round) - Friday April 8, 2011 7:45pm
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: Ashley Klein and Adam Devcich
Video Referee: Steve Clark
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Ricky MacFarlane
Crowd: 22,677
Halftime: Wests Tigers 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Benji Marshall (1 Try, 4 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
2 Points - Simon Dwyer (2 Tries)
1 Point - Wade McKinnon (1 Try)

Wests Tigers (30)
Tries: Benji Marshall, Mitch Brown, Wade McKinnon, Simon Dwyer (2)
Field Goals: Benji Marshall (0/1)
Conversions: Benji Marshall (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Benji Marshall (1/1)

South Sydney Rabbitohs (6)
Tries: Chris Sandow
Conversions: Chris Sandow (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary It's HERITAGE ROUND tonight - both teams will be wearing retro strips from years gone by:

v
Good Evening and Welcome to the Sydney Football Stadium for this Men of League Heritage Round Match between the Wests Tigers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. South Sydney took out the Toyota Cup match here 24 - 22.
TEAM NEWS: Garreth Ellis comes back for the Tigers and will start the game in jumper 18. Alan Schirnack drops to the bench and Aaron Woods drops from the bench. South Sydney are as per program.
1 min: Dylan Farrell kicks off and we are underway.
1 min: Marshall kicks on the third and Wesser brings it out from his own tryline.
2 min: PENALTY against the Tigers for a steal to help the Rabbitohs down the field.
3 min: Sutton's boot is marked on the full by Utai for a 20 metre tap.
4 min: Ayshford knocks on about 20 metres out from his line, great opportunity for Souths to get on the board early here.
6 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbitohs. Asotasi out muscles would be defenders before offloading to Sandow to score. Sandow converts his own try.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0
7 min: Strong set from Souths on the back of the try but Sutton's boot bounces favourably for McKinnon to bring it back in.
8 min: PENALTY against the Rabbitohs, chance for Tigers to hit back here.
8 min: PENALTY against the Rabbitohs right on their tryline.
9 min: Marshall puts in a deft grubber, but Utai was too short to take it cleanly.
10 min: Strong set from Souths after repeat sets and a good kick from Sandow.
11 min: Weak set from the Tigers, not offermuch there.
12 min: McKinnon works hard to stop a 40/20, backs it back in, but the ball bounces out so Souths get a scrum.
13 min: Ordinary set of six in great attacking position from Souths comes to an end with a ball being given to the Tigers.
14 min: Little lift in intensity from the Tigers here, Benji trying to create something.
15 min: Forward pass on halfway from Burgess.
17 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers. Marshall too good for South Sydney defenders given the ball off the back of the scrum a few sidesteps and a dash through to score under the posts. Converts his own try.
6 all
18 min: Tigers really starting to attack, huge kick from MArshall at the end of the set to gve Souths a 20 metre tap.
20 min: Souths make huge yardage in the set to get to the other end of the field, but a good kick from Sutton diffused with some beautiful aerial work.
20 min: Tigers run it on the last at halfway before Dwyer eventually puts in a nothing kick.
21 min: Great kick from Sandow troubles McKinnon who eventually falls on it.
22 min: Marshall goes for a chip and chase around halfway but it is picked up by South Sydney hands.
23 min: Sandow cut out pass goes to Farrell's foot before finding its way out the sideline.
24 min: Marshall bananas the ball at the end of a decent set, some work for Wesser to collect it gives Wests' defence time to collect him.
25 min: McKinnon fields andow's boot easily and carts the ball upfirld for the Tigers.
26 min: Good work from Merrit getting back into the field of play after fielding the boot.
26 min: Sandow boot goes straight down Brown's throat for an easy trel back to his 30.
27 min: Exciting attacking set from the Tigers, ends with a Marshall pass finding the sideline.
28 min: South Sydney really tiring here, have all 4 interchange players on the field now and South Sydney look for the sideline to end their set.
29 min: Tigers on an attacking raid, but Heighington ruled to have thrown a forward pass, who is on the ground after getting hit hard by Inglis.
30 min: The scrum eats up time...
31 min: PENALTY against the Tigers for being offside, takes them about 15 out.
32 min: Wests' defence too good for the Bunnies, Sandow forced to kick, but the boot was too deep.
33 min: Marshall fumbles to give the ball back to the Bunnies.
34 min: Souths attack a little headless and McQueen knocks on.
36 min: TRY
Farah makes a break through the middle and gets it onto McKinnon to score under the posts. Easy conversion for Marshall.
Wests Tigers 12-6
38 min: Marshall loses the ball in a tackle 40 metres out from South Sydney's line.
39 min: Great try saving tackle from McKinnon, not held finished off by Dwyer.
39 min: And Merrit knocks on to hand the ball to the Tigers.
40 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
Marshall goes for a huuuge field goal and just skews it past the upright.
Wests Tigers 12-6
40 min: And that's the half.
41 min: Benji Marshall kicks the second half into play.
41 min: Souths don't do much with the opening set of the half and Sandow's boot gives the Tigers a 20 metre restart.
43 min: Mrshall high bomb allowed to bounce collects it himself, gets it on to his McPherson who knocks it on.
44 min: Souths given 6 again from about 40 out.
45 min: McKinnon cleaning up at the back with ease.
45 min: Marshall kicks from inside his 40 going for a 40/20 which just stays inside the field of play. Talanoa picks it up before he is collects by UTai and pops the ball out the sideline to give the Tigers a scrum 20 metres out.
48 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers. Sideline to sideline stuff, finished off by Brown who scores in the corner. Conversion by Marshall unsuccessful.
Wests Tigers 16-6
49 min: Benji Marshall kicks early in the count again, charged down by South Sydney and Tigers get six again.
50 min: TRY
Marshall throws a cheeky dummy then an inside pass to Dwyer who dashes in to score under the posts. Quick and easy conversion for Marshall.
Wests Tigers 22-6
51 min: Cleaner defensive set from Souths who get the ball off the end of it.
52 min: Good attacking set from Souths, Brown diffuses it beautifully in goal and makes his way out.
53 min: Good work from the Souths backs to keep the ball off the Marshall boot.
54 min: Strange series of play from Sutton near the Tigers line on the last ends with the Tigers getting the ball.
54 min: End to end stuff now.
55 min: Luke Stuart is injured and that is South Sydney's ninth interchange with 25 minutes to go.
56 min: A few errors from the Tigers, up to Souths to see if they can do anything off the back of them.
57 min: Ayshford is thrown over the sideline about 15 out.
58 min: Dave Taylor looking at the tryline passes the ball to one of the sideline officials.
59 min: These scrums eating up a lot of time.
60 min: Marshall doing well with the boot finding vacant space out back.
61 min: PENALTY, well 2 in the space of 30 seconds against the Tigers.
62 min: Souths in fantastic field position don't seem to know what to do with it.
63 min: PENALTY against the Rabbitohs who look like they would rather be anywhere else.
64 min: PENALTY against the Bunnies who can do no right here.
65 min: PENALTY GOAL
Tigers take the 2 and Benji gets them easily.
Wests Tigers 24-6
66 min: MArshall knocks on 20 metres out. Souths have spent a lot of time in the Tigers 20 this half and not been ablr to convert any of it into points.
67 min: Sandow knocks on.
68 min: PENALTY aginst Souths, Sandow not happy with the tackler who forced him to cough up the ball.
69 min: PENALTY aginst Souths again, a little ill discipline here.
71 min: TRY
No look pass from Marshall onto Dwyer to score his second. Marshall converts.
Wests Tigers 30-6
72 min: Tigers kicking early in the count, this time it helps Wesser make it 5 out from halfway.
73 min: Some biff between the two sides here and some funny refereeing gives Tigers a penalty.
74 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
Another drop goal attempt from Marshall, too wide.
Wests Tigers 30-6
75 min: PENALTY and Benji Marshall is sin binned for holding down in the tackle. Opportunity for Souths too attack with only 12 men defending the Tigers line.
76 min: Some insane acrobatic but Souths still can't get points on the board, Brown cleans up.
77 min: Half break from the Tigers and a knock on ends the raid.
78 min: Souths knock on.
79 min: PENALTY aginst the Rabbitohs to give Tigers one last attacking opportunity for the game.
80 min: Tigers butcher it at the line with the ball going forward.
80 min: Taylor tries to create something off the toe, but McKinnon sees it over the dead ball line and Tigers take the game 30 points to 6.