Rabbitohs glide past powerless Parramatta

South Sydney have extended their lead at the top to three points after a workman-like 30 points to 10 victory over Parramatta at ANZ Stadium in front of 17,077 fans.

The rain was tumbling down all weekend in Sydney but it didn’t stop an entertaining contest brewing at ANZ Stadium between South Sydney and Parramatta, two teams at polar opposites of the table (Souths at the top, Parramatta at the bottom).

In a contest where possession was key, both teams held onto the ball when penalties didn’t intervene. Parramatta weathered an early storm and slipped in for the opener with Ken Sio finishing off a good backline shift.

The early try woke up the sluggish Rabbitohs who turned to their halfback, Adam Reynolds who used his short kicking game to earn repeat sets and produce points. Dylan Walker was the receipent as he raced through and touched down after several Eels slipped trying to recover the ball.

For wet conditions it seemed the short kicking games of both sides would determine the winner and it featured highly in South Sydney’s second try. John Sutton standing for an age in a tackle, offloaded to Justin Hunt who stabbed one through for Dylan Farrell to pounce. Adam Reynolds added the extras and after the slow start, South Sydney led 12 points to 4 at halftime.

As the weather worsened, South Sydney just got stronger. Adam Reynolds once again the architect as he spied the fullback up and slid one in behind to isolate Darcy Lussick and allow Justin Hunt to swoop in for the try.

Eels had been dominated for most the game but they weren’t fading away quietly into the night. Ken Sio was saying see ya later after he collected an errant Reynolds pass to streak the required distance to close the gap to 18-10.

Just as they worked themselves back into the game, South Sydney widen the gap once again. Adam Reynolds tormenting young Jake Mullaney with high bombs and from the fullback’s error Reynolds shrugs off three defenders to post a try himself.

Five minutes later and it was game over for a gallant Eels side as the defense was tiring and South Sydney could sense blood. Isaac Luke running it on last tackle and found John Sutton for a simple try to put the game outside of the reach of the cellar dwellers.

South Sydney with this victory extended their lead at the top of the table to three points while Parramatta get separated from the pack in last position.

Match Details
Parramatta Eels 10 South Sydney Rabbitohs 30
Venue: Stadium Australia
Crowd: 0
Halftime Score: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-4

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Adam Reynolds
2 points - Justin Hunt
1 point - John Sutton

PARRAMATTA EELS (10)
Tries: Ken Sio (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Chris Sandow (1/2)
Penalty Goals:

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (30)
Tries: Dylan Walker, Adam Reynolds, Dylan Farrell, Justin Hunt, John Sutton
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/5)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Eels: 1. Jake Mullaney 2. Ken Sio 3. Ryan Morgan 4. Cheyse Blair 5. Brayden Williame 6. Joseph Paulo 7. Chris Sandow 8. Tim Mannah 9. Matt Keating 10. Mitch Allgood 11. Reni Maitua (c) 12. Matt Ryan 13. Peni Terepo
Interchange: 14. Ben Roberts 15. Darcy Lussick 16. Fuifui Moimoi 17. Jacob Loko 18. Pat O’Hanlon

Rabbitohs: 1. Justin Hunt 2. Dylan Farrell 3. Bryson Goodwin 4. Dylan Walker 5. Andrew Everingham 6. John Sutton 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Dave Tyrrell 9. Issac Luke 10. Roy Asotasi 11. Ben Lowe 12. Nathan Peats 13. Sam Burgess
Interchange: 14. Luke Keary 15.Jeff Lima 16. Josh Starling 17. Thomas Burgess
Welcome to a soggy ANZ Stadium for a mis-match on paper between South Sydney and Parramatta. Souths will be missing several of their origin stars including Inglis and Merritt while Parramatta welcome back Jacob Loko.
TEAM CHANGES:

PAR: There are a few changes for the Eels; Jacob Loko starts in place of Cheyse Blair while Daniel Harrison and Darcy Lussick come into the starting side. Matt Ryan is out of the side while Peni Teripo goes back to the bench.

SOU: No changes. 1-17.
Parramatta were victorious in the U20s curtain-raiser. They held off a fast finishing South Sydney side to win 18-12.
Souths make their way onto a wet ANZ Stadium in the foreign role of the away side, as Parramatta are the home side tonight. They are wearing the traditional cardinal and myrtle and head to halfway followed by the home side, Parramatta who are in their blue and gold jersey receive the kick-off.
4 min: Early pressure on both fullbacks with high bombs but were dealt with ease.
6 min: First PENALTY of the afternoon to South Sydney as Dave Tyrell was held down too long.
7 min: Adam Reynolds puts it on his toe and forces Jacob Loko to knock it dead for a dropout.
8 min: From the dropout, Burgess, Sam steams ahead but is caught in a grapple. PENALTY.
9 min: SIX MORE South Sydney from Adam Reynolds rebounded kick. More pressure coming with a PENALTY following, offside.
10 min: Some good defense from Parramatta forcing an error as Souths were attacking their line. They are rewarded with a PENALTY as well for an offside.
11 min: We've gone end to end in this set as Matthew Keating goes close. He draws a PENALTY though for markers not square. Parramatta right on the line now.
VIDEO REFEREE: Ken Sio might have the first try of the afternoon but the referee has gone upstairs looking for the touch line.
13 min: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Ken Sio. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow unsuccessful.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Well it is the outsiders who strike first. Parramatta get it wide to the edges where Sio had room and slid in for the opening try despite Justin Hunt's best efforts. Chris Sandow from the sideline tries to swing it in but pushes it wide.
Parramatta Eels 4-0
15 min: The Eels try to go down the short side through Sandow and the winger the latter taken into touch by two South Sydney defenders.
15 min: A theme is already forming this afternoon with a PENALTY again for South Sydney. The seventh one already.
VIDEO REFEREE: Whoops, Ryan Morgan has slipped and Dylan Walker might have grounded it. We are checking the grounding.
17 min: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Walker. Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Adam Reynolds stabs another through in tricky conditions with Eels slipping over allowing Dylan Walker to slip in and ground the ball just before the dead ball. Adam Reynolds sneaks the conversion inside the posts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-4
24 min: A big roar from the South Sydney faithful as Tom Burgess takes his first hit-up in the NRL. Next tackle the marker wasn't square and draws the PENALTY.
VIDEO REFEREE: Adam Reynolds sliced through and scored.. or has he? Referee has indicated NO TRY and checking obstruction.
25 min: RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY. It was deemed that Tom Burgess has impeded the defense and gave Adam Reynolds a saloon passage. Parramatta PENALTY.
27 min: Sandow kicks it ahead for Mullaney and Keating the latter is OFFSIDE so PENALTY South Sydney.
28 min: Tom Burgess is involved heavily in his debut earning a PENALTY for a strip. Things are heating up on a cold afternoon.
VIDEO REFEREE: Dylan Farrell could be in, checking grounding.
30 min: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Farrell. Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Some great work from Souths there. Sutton pokes his nose through the line, holding off two defenders before offloading to Hunt who grubbers through and Dylan Farrell collects it for the four pointer. Adam Reynolds swings it over for his second conversion of the afternoon.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-4
33 min: The early try against them has woken the ladder leaders up and they try the inside-out ball to Hunt but he's taken early. PENALTY.
34 min: Adam Reynolds has the ball on a string thus far, putting another through that forces Parramatta to knock it dead for another dropout.
35 min: After a evading run, Isaac Luke knocks it on at dummy-half. Only the second error the Rabbitohs have made thus far.
36 min: Oh dear, Parramatta lost it right back to South Sydney. Back on the attack they go.
37 min: The kick has been the prosperous route tonight for point scoring but Isaac Luke spills a bat back. Parramatta will work it out.
39 min: Ben Lowe hits it up but spills it. Parramatta with a final chance in this half.
39 min: PENALTY Parramatta. A whole set on the Rabbitohs line here.
40 min: Eels try to go too quick and the ball isn't played properly. HALFTIME.
41 min: We're back here at gloomy ANZ Stadium with Parramatta kicking off. Here we go!
VIDEO REFEREE: Justin Hunt might have stolen a TRY here, checking onside and grounding.
44 min: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Justin Hunt. Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Justin Hunt adds his name to the scoresheet. Adam Reynolds put another kick through and left Darcy Lussick stranded allowing Justin Hunt to plant it down. Adam Reynolds slots it from in front.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-4
46 min: A huge bomb from Reynolds is spilled by Mullaney. Ben Lowe picks it up and a PENALTY. South Sydney can put them away early.
VIDEO REFEREE: It is cruel sometimes after such a long run from Sio that it is referred to the video referee. Checking a knock on.
48 min: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Ken Sio. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! See you later Sio as he picked up an errant Reynolds pass and went the required eighty metres for the try. Chris Sandow converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-10
50 min: Momentum has swung here. Dylan Walker tried to get some cheap metres but is grabbed by Loko and company and dumped over the sideline.
51 min: PENALTY Parramatta and they go deeper into Souths half.
52 min: Maitua is almost through the gap after a lovely pass but he spills it. Souths will breath a sigh of relief there.
53 min: Sam Burgess tries to earn some metres with a carry but he spills it. Parramatta ball.
54 min: Parramatta try to sweep the ball around their backline but South Sydney followed the ball forcing Williame over the sideline.
55 min: PENALTY South Sydney - dangerous tackle.
58 min: Jake Mullaney is having a mare with the bomb, spilling another and taken by an offside player. PENALTY South Sydney who tap and go.
60 min: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Adam Reynolds. Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Some good interplay between the future of South Sydney there. Luke Keary supplies the pass to Adam Reynolds who shakes off some feeble defense to cross and take it outside a two try margin again. Reynolds converts his own try.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-10
62 min: That is a costly error, Ken Sio is taken in a strong tackle and loses the ball.
63 min: CROWD is 17,077 here at ANZ Stadium. Good effort from all.
65 min: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by John Sutton. Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Game over here and it might get much worse for the Eels. Isaac Luke on last doesn't look for kick opts for the short ball to Sutton who falls over for the TRY. Reynolds adds another two to his tally.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-10
67 min: Justin Hunt with a rare error in the game, losing it.
74 min: Parramatta aren't going away quietly. They try to go down the side with Loko but it's dropped.
76 min: Parramatta get their first dropout of the contest followed by a PENALTY.
78 min: That wasn't needed. Lussick hits a Souths player late and PENALTY.
79 min: Souths try to put a final cherry on top of the win but it's knocked on by Reynolds.
80 min: South Sydney will run out convincing winners here 30 points to 10.
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