Raiders crumble at hands of Bunnies

The South Sydney Rabbitohs travelled to the nation's capital to take on the Canberra Raiders and left having taken down their hosts 47-18 to complete over a century of points in their past 2 matches.

The first half saw South Sydney dominate early taking complete control of the opening 25 minutes with 4 converted tries before the Raiders even completed a set. Dylan Farrell claimed the first try in the ninth minute. South Sydney proceeded to score three tries in ten minutes with two to Inglis one in the 15th and one in the 25th minute and a Ross try separating them in the 21st minute.  Sandow took 100% conversion rate in the first half helping Souths to a big 24 point lead by the 25th minute.

Canberra found a way back into the game and began to ignite as Souths began to decelerate in the last quarter of the first half.  Canberra claimed a try through Ferguson in the 31st minute and with the Croker conversion and the 12,150 crowd at their backs, Canberra looked like staging a big come back. Canberra however failed to take their opportunities and went into the interval trailing 24-18.

Canberra played their way back out of the contest early in the second half, conceding penalties and producing flimsy defensive efforts. Merritt put on 2 quick tries of his own in the 50 and 54th minute to follow on from his 5 against the Eels and with Sandow's conversions, Raiders were facing a large deficit.  Merritt bombed a chance to take a genuine hat trick and Canberra capitalised on the error again looking like making a huge come back.

Dugan crossed in the 58th minute and Raiders began to build momentum but struggled to keep the errors out of their game and only managed one more try in the 64th which saw Croker nail a superb conversion from the sideline completing a 100% conversion rate.  Raiders 18 points were however mere consolation to the mountain of points the Rabbitohs put on and they weren't done yet.  Merritt still had a hat trick to complete and he completed it in the 72nd minute after Sandow booted a field goal in the 71st.

Souths were one point away from completing a century of points from their past two games and crossed the hundred in the seventy ninth minute with a try to Chris McQueen to help them to the 47-18 score line they took to claim the victory. The big margins helped keep Souths in touch with the 8 and Canberra in contention for the spoon.

Match Details
Canberra Raiders 18 were defeated by South Sydney Rabbitohs 47
National Rugby League - Round 23 - Sunday August 14, 2011 2:00pm
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Referee: Tony De Las Heras and Steve Lyons
Video Referee: Rod Lawrence
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Grant Atkins
Crowd: 12,150
Halftime: Canberra Raiders 6 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - John Sutton
2 Points - Chris Sandow (7 Conversions, 1 Field Goal)
1 Point - Ben Ross (1 Try)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (18)
Tries: Reece Robinson, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (3/3)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (47)
Tries: Greg Inglis (2), Nathan Merritt (3), Ben Ross, Chris McQueen, Dylan Farrell
Field Goals: Chris Sandow (1/1)
Conversions: Chris Sandow (7/8)
Penalty Goals: Chris Sandow (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good afternoon and welcome to Canberra Stadium for League Unlimited's coverage of the Round 23 clash between the Canberra Raiders and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Underway at Canberra Stadium.
4 min: A big break up the middle and Shillington is carrying Souths' defenders to the line. He's brought down, and the last tackle grubber is well fielded by Nathan Merritt.
7 min: Souths' last tackle kick ends up with Josh Dugan who makes plenty of metres up the park... and Canberra get a penalty. More earlier pressure on the Bunnies here.
10 min: TRY
TRY! The Bunnies absorb all the pressure and Sandow makes a clean break, before finding Dylan Farrell in support who scores under the posts. Sandow converts the try he set up, the Bunnies lead early.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0
11 min: PENALTY to the Rabbitohs against Tongue for a steal just outside Souths' 20.
13 min: Tongue makes a costly error, turning over the ball inside his 20 to put South Sydney on the attack.
14 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Souths TRY.
16 min: TRY
TRY to Rabbitohs. Sutton makes a break and puts Inglis into score. Sandow converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-0
19 min: A painful error from Fergusson, plays at an Inglis boot which would have gone out on the full, but instead gives Souths a scrum in attacking range.
22 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbits. Canberra defence looking very ordinary and South Sydney taking full advantage as Sutton puts Ross in to score. Sandow converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-0
24 min: Errors each way, but Canberra's look the more costly, as McCrone throws a pass which is intercepted by Inglis who streaks away with it.
25 min: TRY
And Inglis streaks all the way to the line for his second TRY of the match. Sandow makes no mistake with the boot.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-0
28 min: Canberra starting to complete, but Souths still looking well on top.
29 min: A Raiders error gives Souths some ball right in the Canberra red zone.
30 min: Souths return the ball cheaply with an error on the first tackle.
33 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders.
A wicked bounce of the ball and Blake Fergusson collects it to step inside a would be defender and score. Croker converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-6
34 min: Raiders seem to have ignited now and are really challenging the Bunnies and getting the crowd right into this.
35 min: PENALTY to the Raiders 15 out from the South Sydney line, against Sutton for being inside the ten.
36 min: Raiders earn a repeat set at the South Sydney line forcing a goal line drop out.
39 min: PENALTY to the Raiders, this should put Canberra in good attacking range, Peats penalised for being inside the ten.
40 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a Canberra TRY.
40 min: NO TRY! A foot into touch denies the Raiders.
40 min: That will be half time with Canberra beginning to stage a fight back, but South Sydney still ahead by three converted tries. Rabbits lead Raiders 24-6.
41 min: Second half under way. Inglis has not come back onto the field yet as he has concussion and is being monitored.
43 min: A McCrone error from dummy half puts South Sydney onto the attack early in the second 40.
46 min: Canberra undoing some of their good work with errors giving Souths prime real estate.
47 min: PENALTY to the Bunnies against Harrison for a steal 13 out and it looks like Souths will take the 2.
47 min: PENALTY GOAL ATTEMPT
Sandow misses the penalty goal.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-6
49 min: Sutton puts in a short kick that earns a repeat set by forcing the goal line drop out.
51 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbits. Merritt slices through some feeble defence and puts the ball down to score. Sandow converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-6
55 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbits. Inside ball puts Merritt in for his second. Sandow converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-6
57 min: Merritt looked like coming in for a hat trick, but lose it inside the Canberra 20.
59 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders! Josh Dugan crosses for a consolation try to the Raiders. Conversion from Croker successful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-12
61 min: PENALTY to the Raiders against Burgess for a high tackle to put Canberra right onto the attack.
62 min: Dugan appears to have put Robinson, but the ball is ruled to have gone forward.
64 min: Six again for the Raiders after Farrell touches a ball.
66 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders! Robinson finds his way into the corner to score the try the forward pass denied him minutes earlier. Croker converts from the sideline.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-18
67 min: Ferguson bombs a Canberra opportunity throwing an intercept pass.
68 min: Errors both ways, Souths starting to make some mistakes and Raiders continue to do so denying themselves the opportunity to fight back.
71 min: FIELD GOAL
Sandow boots a field goal ensure this game stays out of reach for the Raiders.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 37-18
73 min: TRY
John Sutton puts a deft little kick in to give Merritt his third for the afternoon. Sandow converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 43-18
75 min: Errors continue to flow as Souths will put on another huge victory.
79 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbits. Merritt creates a try for McQueen to help Souths reach 100 points from their past 2 matches. Conversion attempt from Sandow unsuccessful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 47-18
80 min: The siren gives Canberra a reprieve and signals a thumping at the hands of South Sydney who have taken the game 47 points to 18.