Penrith punish rusty Roosters
5 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
The Sydney Roosters have demolished the South Sydney Rabbitohs by 38-10 here tonight at Aussie Stadium.
After a tight start to the match, which saw a 10-all half time scoreline, the Roosters clicked into top gear in the second stanza, laying on five tries to seal Brad Fittler?s 300th First Grade game in style.
Craig Wing was best on ground scoring two tries and having a hand in plenty. He showed his versatility by replacing the injured Brett Finch and will give the NSW selectors something to think about for the third State of Origin game.
For the Rabbitohs, Justin Smith played well and tried very hard. As did Owen Craigie who, despite his weight, can still get around pretty well. Unfortunately, when the Roosters turned up the heat, the Rabbitohs went missing. Sadly it?s a very familiar story for the Red and Green?s, who really should have put the Warriors away last week.
Saturday 5 July 2003 5:30 PM Aussie Stadium Referee: Paul Simpkins Scorers: ROOSTERS Tries: Wing 2,Robinson, Cross, Minichello, Fittler, Walker Goals: Crocker 4/6, Fittler 1/1 RABBITOHS Tries: MacDougall Goals: Smith 3/3
Leagueunlimited.com Player of the Year Award
3 ? C Wing (Roosters) 2 ? A Minichello (Roosters) 1 ? J Smith (Rabbitohs)
By the clock:
Craig Wing to halfback for the Roosters. Brad Fittler to celebrate his 300th First Grade game.
Rabbitohs to kick-off.
1 min: Stuart Webb leaving the field for the Roosters after a nasty head clash.
8 min: Rabbitohs in the lead after a penalty goal for an infringement in the ruck by Luke Ricketson and Michael Crocker. Justin Smith makes short work of the attempt to take the lead for Souths to 2-nil.
13 min: TRY - Souths. Luke MacDougall scores an opportunistic try against the run of play after a Roosters offload goes to ground. Souths 6 Roosters 0.
14 min: Smith converts for Souths, who now lead 8-nil.
17 min: TRY - Roosters. Brad Fittler puts Chad Robinson through a gap with a great short ball. Souths 8 Roosters 4.
18 min: Crocker misses the kick, scores remain Souths 8 leading the Roosters 4.
28 min: Owen Craigie makes a great break from a scrum using a decoy runner but takes out the corner post while trying to score. Souths playing well and giving the Roosters a run for their money.
32 min: TRY - Roosters. Fittler throws a cut-out pass to a flying Ryan Cross on the wing and the home team is in again. Scores locked at 8-all
33 min: Crocker converts from near the sideline and the Roosters claim the lead for the first time tonight. Roosters 10 Rabbitohs 8.
38 min: Craigie makes a big run up the centre and is held down during the play the ball. Souths get the penalty and Smith pots it cooly. Scores locked at 10-all just before half time.
HALF TIME
Souths came out firing, putting on the first try before going to sleep. However, they regained a bit of the ascendency towards the latter stages of the second half and looked a much improved team up against the reigning premiers.
In the Roosters camp, one gets the feeling that things aren't quite going to plan. They got on a bit of a roll halfway through the first half but the Rabbitohs kept coming back at them. It will be interesting to see how the second half pans out, but I don't think Fittler will give up his 300th without a fight.
Roosters to kick-off.
45 min: TRY - Roosters. Craig Wing takes the ball to the line and ducks and weaves before off-loading to Anthony Minichello who's supporting on the outside. Roosters 14 Souths 10.
46 min: Crocker makes no mistake to take the lead out to 16-10 in favour of the Roosters. The game looks to be opening up.
52 min: Souths put up a mid-field chip/bomb and Minichello and Crocker collide savagely in mid-air. Reminiscent of Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie in the 2000 tour of Sri Lanka.
58 min: TRY - Roosters. After some toing and froing from both teams the Roosters make inroads down the left hand side before Fittler chips over the top for Wing to collect the ball under the black dot. Roosters lead 20-10.
58 min: Crocker converts to extend the lead to 22-10 in favour of the Roosters.
66 min: TRY - Roosters. All going according to the script now for the Roosters as Brad Fittler strolls over under the posts from short range to score in his 300th First Grade appearance. Roosters lead 26-10.
66 min: Crocker bags another easy one. Roosters 28 Rabbitohs 10.
69 min: TRY - Roosters. Wing picks up the scraps and scores another four pointer. The game is deteriorating somewhat with the Roosters running riot. Roosters lead 32-10.
69 min: Crocker misses the attempt at goal. Score remains 32-10 in favour of the Roosters.
76 min: A fight erupts between Fittler and Smith. Rabbitohs penalised, but it could have gone either way.
78 min: TRY - Roosters. Chris Walker goes over next to the post after a good off-load. Video Referee called in to adjudicate and gives the green light.
78 min: Fittler converts to cap off his 300th.
FULL TIME
Roosters walk away triumphant after carving out a great second half to blow away the Rabbitohs.