Rampant Rabbitohs defeat Manly

The Central Coast was given a treat with the round 4 clash between the Rabbitohs and the Sea Eagles taken to Bluetongue Stadium. The 18,108 strong crowd saw a wonderful contest taken out by the Rabbitohs 32-30.

Both sides came into the game with injuries forcing changes from the named teams. Manly's late injuries saw them use back rower Buhrer on the wing. South Sydney debuted two players following their injuries. In spite of this both sides came out strongly.

South Sydney took out the first half honours taking a six point lead into the interval after scoring a four pointer to Dylan Farrell in the dying stages of the half following a physical half from both sides.

Both teams started the match strongly muscling up and refusing to give anything away. First points went to South Sydney in the ninth minute after the ball went through two boots before Dylan Farrell scored the try which was converted by Sandow.

The first error of the match came in the 12th minute and Manly's first points came as a result with Buhrer playing on the wing being awarded a benefit of the doubt TRY. Cherry-Evans converted and scores were level.

Manly's first error of the night came in the 16th minute and Souths followed the lead of their opponents and scored on the back of the error. Dave Taylor put in a deft grubber for Talanoa to score.  Snadow failed to convert, but did mange the next two points after Manly conceded the first two penalties of the match back to back offering an easy penalty goal in the 24th minute

Foran put in some brilliant work in the ensuing sets and it paid off when he put Buhrer in for his second.  Cherry-Evans failed to level, with the ball finding its way through too many posts, going underneath the crossbar too.  Souths scored the last points of the half in the 40th minute to head into the sheds 6 points ahead.

Back rowers from both sides were giving themselves kicking duties early in the second half, with Dave Taylor having fun putting boot to ball and Glenn Stewart not to be outdone, doing a job for Manly.  Stewart's boot forced the game's first line drop out in the 48th minute.  Manly scored on the back of it through Foran putting in Daniel Harrison.

The Harrison try reminded Farrell of his relationship with the whitewash, and Farrell found his way over to score his third in the 56th minute, but injured himself in the motion and could take no more part in the game.  Issac Luke was given the kicking duties and missed his first.

Souths began to run riot, scoring again in the 62nd minute through Merritt off a McQueen break.  Easier shot for Luke who scored his first goal of the night following that try.  Merritt went over again just minutes later courtesy of an Inglis break, Luke again converted to give Souths an 18 point lead in the 18th minute.

Manly hit back in the 71st minute, again with great lead up work from Foran who put in a beautiful kick which was knocked back by Robertson before Watmough claimed a four pointer and Cherry-Evans converted it to six.

Souths almost put the game out of reach in the 74th minute, the sideline was however their friend and they gave themselves a real chance to take the game, scoring their own try in the 76th minute through Michael Oldfield assisted by Lyon's boot.  Manly's scoreline was then assisted by Cherry-Evans' boot, putting them a converted try behind.

Cherry Evans' boot helped again with a bomb which was dropped by Tyrrel to put Manly on the attack.  Cherry-Evans helped again putting William Hopoate in to score, but he could not help put the game into golden point missing the conversion.

Manly's run home fell short, and the game was taken away by South Sydney 32 points to 30 after a thoroughly entertaining match.

Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32 defeated Manly Sea Eagles 30
National Rugby League - Round 4 - Friday April 1, 2011 3:45am
Venue: Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Referee: Ashley Klein and Adam Devcich
Video Referee: Sean Hampstead
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Ricky MacFarlane
Crowd: 18,108
Halftime: South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 Manly Sea Eagles 10

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Chris Sandow (1 Conversion, 1 Penalty Goal)
2 Points - Kieran Foran
1 Point - Dylan Farrell (3 Tries)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (32)
Tries: Nathan Merritt (2), Fetuli Talanoa, Dylan Farrell (3)
Conversions: Issac Luke (2/3), Chris Sandow (1/3)
Penalty Goals: Chris Sandow (1/1)

MANLY SEA EAGLES (30)
Tries: Anthony Watmough, William Hopoate, Jamie Buhrer (2), Michael Oldfield, Daniel Harrison
Conversions: Daly Cherry-Evans (3/6)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Hello and welcome to Bluetongue Stadium for this round 4 clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles where Manly took out the Toyota Cup Match 36 - 28.
TEAM NEWS: For the Bunnies, Wesser is out, Merrit moves to fullback, and Kane Morgan debuts in the vacated wing position. Burgess is also out, being replaced in the run on side by Michael Crocker with Nathan Peats to bebut from the bench.
Manly are without Brett Stewart with Robertson moving to fullback, Williams is also out, so Jamie Buhrer moves into one wing position and the other is taken by Michaela Oldfield. SeuSeu is also out, with the two men added to the bench being Tim Robinson in jumper 18 and Daniel Harrison in jumper 20.
1 min: Souths kick off and we are underway.
1 min: Good first set from Manly, Souths take their first tackle on the ten metre line.
2 min: High kick from Sandow, Manly clean it up easily and take it to their 30 before having to play the ball.
3 min: Chance for Manly from the boot, but the ball ruled to have gonr forward off Robertson.
4 min: Sutton goes for a 40/20 on the third tackle, but cleaned up easily by Manly.
5 min: Manly make good metres in the set, but the boot just hits the outside of the in goal.
6 min: Good set and good kick from South Sydney to force a scrum on the ten metre line.
7 min: End to end stuff here, neither team wanting to give anything away.
10 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbits. Little chip over the top by Sandow, bounces up off the boot of Morgan on debut who gets it on to Farrell to score. Conversion from Sandow successful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0
11 min: Good set on the back of the try, Manly up to it though.
12 min: 100% completion rates from both teams here.
12 min: Great boot from Sandow forces a scrum 5 metres out.
13 min: Fantastic set by Manly gets them to the other end of the field and Morgan fails to clean up a little Foran bomb and knocks on.
15 min: TRY
TRY to Many. After many replays, Buhrer awarded a benefit of the doubt try, Cherry-Evans converts.
6 all
16 min: Manly make their first error of the night with Galavou failing to catch a ball, opportunity for Souths 20 metres out.
17 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible South Sydney TRY.
18 min: TRY
TRY to the Bunnies. Taylor grubs it on for Talanoa to score within centimetres of the dead ball line. Sandows boot goes across the face of the uprights.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10-6
20 min: Farrel passes a ball to the a sideline official to hand Manly a scrum on about halfway.
21 min: Good opportunity comes to nothing as Manly lose it on the last play.
22 min: PENALTY - first penalty of the night goes to Souths for too much time in the tackle.
24 min: PENALTY GOAL
Souths given another penalty for a strip, go for the 2. Sandow nails it easily.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-6
25 min: Strong set on the back of the points from Souths, muscling up quite well here.
26 min: Foran makes half a break on the fifth, but Manly have are at halfway, a good boot from Cherry-Evans forces Merrit to take it in from the in goal.
29 min: TRY
Some brilliant work from Foran in the set sees him put Buhrer in for his second. The boot of Cherry-Evans goes underneath the crossbar.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-10
31 min: Strong work from Manly who find their way to the other end of the field, with two tackles up teir sleeves.
32 min: Foran's boot is fielded by Morgan, so the set comes to nothing.
33 min: Manly were looking to be all over this South Sydney side in that set, but were their allowed to play their way back in.
34 min: Big bomb from Cherry-Evans but easily fielded by Talanoa.
35 min: Quite a physical half of football here but Manly look to be on top, despite being down by 2.
36 min: Ball dropped by Foran, both teams starting to look lie their awaiting half time.
37 min: The physicality continues but teams are showing some tired signs.
40 min: TRY
TRY ro the Rabbits. Low percentage play from Merrit puts Farrell in for what in the end was a soft try. Sandow fails to convert and Souths go into the half time with a 6 point lead.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16-10
41 min: Cherry-Evans boots the second half into play.
41 min: Taylor fails to catch a ball inviting Manly in in the opening minute of the fsecond half.
42 min: Souths clean up the opportunity after a Foran grubber is stopped by the head of Sutton.
43 min: Bunnies get to their last tackle option which is a big bomb by Sandow, cleaned up easily.
44 min: Manly dominating field position here, but Souths doing a good job cleaning up.
45 min: Taylor giving himself some kicking duties here and not doing a bad job at all...
46 min: Foran bomb, Morgan leaps for it but fails to take it cleanly and knocks on to give Manly a scrum 10 metres out.
47 min: Glenn Stewart puts in a little kick on the fourth tackle, taken by Morgan.
48 min: Morgan forced in goal, to give Manly the first line drop out of the night.
51 min: TRY
TRY to Manly. Foran finds Harrison who goes in to score despite the 3 defenders on top of him. Conversion from Cherry-Evans unsuccessful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16-14
52 min: Manly contained in their 40 in that set, Cherry-Evans boots it to the ten, but Souths get an easy run to the 30 before the first tackle is affected.
53 min: Souths fail to make many more metres inviting Manly to make it back the other side of halfway.
54 min: Back to back penalties to the Rabbits give them a set from 10 metres out.
VIDEO REFEREE for a possible South Sydney TRY.
55 min: NO TRY, almost a double movement, but Souths get away with it.
57 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbits. Merrit gets it on to Farrell who injures himself scoring his third try of the night. Issac Luke takes the conversion and misses.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-14
58 min: Great boot from Sandow forces Manly to pick it up from in goal, and Souths' defence comes up quickly.
59 min: Manly don't go very far with the set and the momentum seems to be favouring the red and greens.
60 min: A chip close to the Manly line is almost regathered, Manly do well to pounce onto it.
61 min: Good set from Manly, but Cherry-Evans' boot just goes out in goal.
63 min: TRY
TRY to South Sydney. Offload from Issac Luke, through hands to McQueen who makes the break before getting it onto Merrit to score near the posts. Easier shot for Luke who nails it.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-14
64 min: Manly go for a short kick off and Sandow pounces on it.
66 min: TRY
TRY. Inglis gets on the outside of Lyon to put Merrit in for his second. Luke converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-14
66 min: Short kickoff comes off for Manly this time as Watmough pats it back to keep it with them.
67 min: Hopoate loses the ball in the tackle to blow Manly's shot at the line.
68 min: Manly's first penalty of the game and they get two in a row to give them a chance to hit back.
69 min: And a third with some dirty tactics from Souths defenders in the tackle
70 min: Real chance for Manly when Morgan fails to clean up , but Merrit forces it in goal for a line drop out.
71 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Manly TRY.
72 min: TRY
Beautiful kick from Foran, taken by Robertson who loses it backwards in goal and Watmough claims a try. Cherry-Evans conversion hits the upright and sails through.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-20
73 min: Double knock on, first against Manly, to halt their momentum.
VIDEO REFEREE for a possible South Sydney TRY.
74 min: NO TRY, hand touching the sideline.
76 min: TRY
Manly take it to the other end, Stewart gets it onto Lyon who puts in a great kick, Oldfield picks it up and finds his way over the tryline. Cherry-Evans converts beautifully.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-26
78 min: High bomb from Cherry-Evans lost by Tyrrel, Manly attacking 10 out.
80 min: TRY
TRY to Many! Nice second man play from Cherry Evans finds Hopoate who finds the line a metre in from touch. Tough conversion for Cherry-Evans who hooks it and South Sydney appear to have the game.
32-30
80 min: The hooter blows and that will be the ball game.