Rabbits out run the Bulldogs

Fulltime score: Round 21 RABBITOHS 37 v BULLDOGS 24

Match summary: The South Sydney Rabbitohs have upset reigning premiers, the Bulldogs in a 37-24 drubbing at the Sydney Football Stadium today.

The Canterbury side opened the scoring before Souths struck back with three tries. The Bulldogs narrowed the gap and at half time, Souths held an 18-12 lead.

The Rabbitohs went further ahead after the break and were looking the goods at 24-12. But the Bulldogs lifted to score twice and at the 60th minute mark, were able to level the scores at 24-all.

But the Canterbury comeback evaporated when South Sydney crossed five minutes later. A field goal from Ben Walker in the 73rd minute put the match out of the Bulldogs' reach.

A late try to Souths' full back Todd Polglase put the match beyond doubt.

Rabbitohs v Bulldogs match photos: Click here to see the photo gallery for this game

Scorers: STH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 37 Tries: Hegarty, L MacDougall, Harrison, B Walker, Cusack, Polglase Goals: B Walker 6/6 FIELD GOAL: B Walker 1 CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 24 Tries: Maitua 2, Anasta, Phelps Goals: Sherwin 4/4

Aussie Stadium Referee: Sean Hampstead Half time: Rabbitohs 18-12

Live commentary: 0 min: Pre-match, kick off soon...

Kickoff!

5 min: NEWS - Still 0-0. Evens in the early stages.

9 min: TRY - Bulldogs. Braith Anasta scores. Conversion Brent Sherwin. Bulldogs 6-0

15 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Winger Shannon Hegarty scores. Conversion Ben Walker. 6-all

18 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Winger Luke MacDougall scores. Conversion Ben Walker. Rabbitohs 12-6

20 min: NEWS - Possession flow favouring Souths but Bulldogs look set to hit back.

31 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Lock Ashley Harrison scores. Conversion Walker. Rabbitohs 18-6

39 min: TRY - Bulldogs. Centre Reni Maitua scores. Conversion Brent Sherwin. Rabbitohs 18-12

Half time: Rabbitohs 18-12 Possession slightly favours Souths and this is reflected on the scoreboard. Overall, an even contest with Souths just having a little more enterprise in attack. Whether or not this will carry them through remains to be seen. For the Bulldogs, Willie Mason and Tony Grimaldi are working hard up front while for Souths, centre Shannon Hegarty is chiming in well with several line breaks.

Second half underway...

48 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Ben Walker scores and then converts his own try. Rabbitohs 24-12

56 min: TRY - Bulldogs. Maitua gets a double. Sherwin converts. Rabbitohs 24-18

60 min: TRY - Bulldogs. A try to Cameron Phelps. Conversion from Sherwin is a ripper. All locked up. 24-all

65 min: TRY - Rabbitohs Peter Cusack scores. Walker converts. Rabbitohs 3-24

73 min: FIELD GOAL - Rabbitohs. Walker delivers a death blow to the Bulldogs. Rabbitohs 31-24

75 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Full back Todd Polglase runs 40m to score. Walker conversion attempt, one metre in from touch, is successful. Rabbitohs 37-24

Full time: Rabbitohs 37-24 Three wins in-a-row to the Rabbitohs. In summary, a great win to one of the cellar dwellers. The Rabbitohs have stood up well against the reigning premiers, an indication of how close the competition is. A well deserved win and Souths answered the challenge when the scores were equaled by the Bulldogs in the 60th minute. Souths held their line when it counted, their scrambling defence was a feature of the match. Worrying signs for Canterbury as Souths could have gone further ahead if not for a couple of bombed tries. Best players on the park included Souths' centre Shannon Hegarty who made numerous line breaks and heaps of metres, always a problem for the Bulldogs' defence. Ben Walker was sensational at five eighth, making a shirtload of tackles and basically killing them around the ruck. For the Bulldogs, lock forward Tony Grimaldi was their best in defence and tried hard all day in a losing side.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - B Walker (Rabbitohs) 2 - S Hegarty (Rabbitohs) 1 - T Grimaldi (Bulldogs) -----------------------------------------