Rampant Rabbitohs Terrorise Tigers

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have run out emphatic 50-10 victors over a disappointing Wests Tigers outfit in today's Heritage Round encounter at the SCG. The crowd of 30685 were treated to a match where Souths turned back the clock with some vintage displays of attack.

It was the Rabbitohs largest ever amount of points scored by the club in 318 matches at the SCG, and equalled their biggest ever winning margin of 40 points.

The match started horrendously for the Tigers, with the kick-off bouncing over the deadball line. It would be a sign of things to come as both sides took their time to settle down, trading errors in a frantic opening 10 minutes. The Rabbitohs opened their account with Nathan Merritt's first try of his hat-trick in the 13th minute came courtesy of a runaway Sam Burgess who sent him on an unimpeded run to the line. The Tigers hit back almost immediately through a superb individual try to halfback Robert Lui. The Rabbitohs scored another two tries before the break to Dave Taylor and Chris Sandow as they headed to the break with a comfortable 18-6 lead.

The Rabbitohs turned on the attacking flair in the second half as they blew the game open in a 6 minute period from the 43rd minute to the 49th minute as they raced out to a 34-6 lead through two tries to Beau Champion and another to Nathan Merritt. The Rabbitohs scored another three tries before fulltime to Colin Best and Fetuli Talanoa while Merritt topped off his hat-trick just before fulltime. Isaac Luke's conversion of the final try recorded the Rabbitohs biggest ever winning margin at the SCG before Chris Lawrence scored a late consolation try as the Rabbitohs equalled their biggest ever winning margin at the SCG.

For the Rabbitohs, they travel across the Tasman next Sunday afternoon to tackle the Warriors while the Tigers travel to Newcastle to take on the Knights on Friday night.

Match Details
Wests Tigers 10 were defeated by South Sydney Rabbitohs 50
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 10 - Sunday May 16, 2010 2:00pm
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Referee: Steve Lyons and Tony De Las Heras
Video Referee: Sean Hampstead
Touch Judges: Luke Phillips and Grant Atkins
Crowd: 30685
Halftime: Wests Tigers 6 South Sydney Rabbitohs 18

WESTS TIGERS (10)
Tries: Chris Lawrence, Robert Lui
Conversions: Benji Marshall (1/2)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (50)
Tries: Beau Champion (2), Nathan Merritt (3), Colin Best, Dave Taylor, Fetuli Talanoa, Chris Sandow
Conversions: Issac Luke (7/9)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary And welcome here to the SCG for this Heritage Round-10 encounter between the Tigers and the Rabbitohs. In team news, Keith Galloway has been ruled out for the Tigers, meaning Todd Payten will shift up to the front row, with Liam Fulton coming into the run-on side in the second row. Junior Moors has been added to the bench. Souths are believed to be as per program. Join me in around 40 minutes time for the First Grade encounter where both sides will be looking to replicate their epic encounter last year which was won 23-22 by the Rabbitohs courtesy of a Nathan Merritt field goal in the dying minutes.
In the Toyota Cup, the Tigers have run out 22-13 victors over the Rabbitohs.
Both teams are embracing the Heritage Spirit, with the Tigers warming up in their black and orange-hooped jerseys, while South Sydney are warming up in jerseys that look much like Minty wrappers!
A late change for the men in pink - Sideline Official Steve Carrall is a late withdrawal, he will be replaced by former Rooster Luke Phillips running the flanks. The other sideline official will remain as Grant Atkins.
Beautiful afternoon at the SCG for this heritage clash, the crowd not spectacular but quite solid - an accident in a nearby tunnel may have stopped a number of supporters getting here on time - hopefully we're headed for a crowd in excess of 25,000. South Sydney walk out onto the hallowed turf of the SCG now, as do the Tigers, holding the hands of junior players from their districts. The National Anthem now to be performed by Mark Vincent.
Both sides are making their way out onto the field where the National Anthem will be sung before a minutes silence will be held for former Balmain great Peter Provan who passed away during the week.
1 min: And we are underway here at the SCG with the Rabbitohs defending the southern end of the ground. The Tigers will have first use of the ball.
1 min: What a horror start for the Tigers! The kick-off has bounced over the deadball line and Souths will now go on the attack.
2 min: John Sutton slices through the Tigers defence before delivering a pass on the inside which was recovered by the Tigers who now work the ball off their own line.
2 min: Benji Marshall's kick on the fifth tackle has gone out on the full. The Tigers have had a terrible start to the match and Souths probably should score here.
2 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible South Sydney try. A possible try to the Rabbitohs here with Souths claiming the ball has been knocked out of Burgess's grasp.
3 min: No try. The Tigers hang on again and will now look to complete a set and get the ball down the other end.
5 min: South Sydney penalty. The Tigers markers have been caught not square and the Rabbits will now once again go on the attack.
6 min: Sam Burgess knocks on a pass from John Sutton. Both sides have started the match very scrappily but the Tigers now have the ball inside South Sydney's half
7 min: Penalty Tigers. Sandow ruled to have run behind one of his own players and taken a Tigers defender out.
7 min: Penalty Tigers. Hands in the ruck.
7 min: The Tigers have again knocked on and will perhaps rue the chance not to take a shot at penalty goal. Both sides need to complete their sets.
9 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible South Sydney try to Isaac Luke after yet another Wests Tigers mistake.
9 min: No Try. Luke is ruled to have knocked the ball out of Farah's grasp when attempting the tackle. Scores remain locked at 0-0.
13 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Nathan Merritt. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful. South Sydney open the scoring at the SCG with a brilliant try. Merritt started the play with a short pass that put Burgess into space. Burgess raced downfield, drawing fullback Beau Ryan before sending Merritt on an unimpeded 50-metre run to score under the posts
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0
14 min: Luke Stuart knocks the ball on, giving the Tigers a chance to hit straight back. Sandow knocks the ball out of Lui's hands from the ensuing scrum.
18 min: Penalty South Sydney. Fitzhenry ruled to have impeded the play-the-ball.
19 min: Penalty Tigers. Sutton concedes the penalty after raking the ball out of Tuqiri's grasp when there was two in the tackle.
20 min: Penalty Tigers. Dave Taylor penalised for having hands in the ruck. Referee De Las Heras calls both captains out for a chat.
20 min: TRY
TRY Wests Tigers
Scored by Robert Lui. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful.
Robert Lui scores a superb solo try. He took the ball at first receiver before throwing a simple dummy and diving over under the posts to open the Tigers account for today.
6 all
24 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Dave Taylor. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
Dave Taylor scores for the Rabbitohs after a shocking pass from dummy half found Ben Lowe out wide minding his own business. Lowe drew fullback Ryan, sending Taylor over out wide to put the Rabbits back in front.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-6
29 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Chris Sandow. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
John Sutton is causing the Tigers defence all kinds of trouble out wide. Sandow backs up the Sutton break, rolling over and planting the ball out wide to extend the Rabbitohs lead.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-6
32 min: Sutton kicks the ball into the corner, putting the finishing touches on another South Sydney set working the ball off their own tryline from the kickoff. The Tigers appear to be in trouble.
38 min: Penalty Tigers. Rabbitohs markers penalised for not being square as they looked to drive the Tigers back into the in-goal.
40 min: The Tigers complete their final set of the first half much the same as they did to start the game - with an error. It has been a disappointing first half for the Tigers.
40 min: Halftime here at the SCG with the Rabbitohs leading the Tigers 18-6. The Rabbitohs took a while to get into their groove, but once they did, appear to be in another class to the Tigers. Tim Sheens will not be happy with the Tigers performance in the first half and it will take a fair form reversal for them to come out in the second half and run the Rabbitohs down.
40 min: And we're underway here in the second half. From the rooms - John Lang wants more of the same, including John Sutton continuing to run the ball while Tim Sheens tore paint off the walls in the rooms, describing their performance as the worst first half of the year.
41 min: Sam Burgess in trouble for the Rabbits, with what looks like a leg injury. Further downfield, the Tigers have made yet another mistake, gifting the Rabbits great field position to extend their lead by even more.
43 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Beau Champion. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke unsuccessful.
Beau Champion scores the easiest of tries from dummy half with a simple dummy on the outside to Burgess and Merritt. Soft Tigers goal-line defence concedes yet another try. This could get ugly for the Tigers.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-6
45 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible South Sydney try. Beau Champion scores under the posts, checking grounding and challenge on the Tigers defender.
45 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Beau Champion. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
Beau Champion scores his second try in two minutes after a towering bomb from Chris Sandow is spilled by Benji Marshall. Champion picks up the scraps and dives over under the posts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-6
49 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Nathan Merritt. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
The Rabbitohs are in again!! Yet another mistake by the Tigers lands in the hands of Sandow, who sends Merritt on a race down the western touchline, crossing on the corner. This match is as good as over and a big scoreline is on the cards here.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 34-6
52 min: Sam Burgess leaves the field for the Rabbitohs. John Lang appears to be taking no chances with the game as good as over.
53 min: Goal-line dropout Tigers. Souths are turning it on in style,with Dave Taylor putting a chip over the top although the best bet would have been to go through the hands and the Rabbits would have scored again.
55 min: 40/20 Wests Tigers
Benji Marshall kicks a 40/20.
Benji Marshall comes up with a 40/20 to put the Tigers on the attack. They will look to close the gap here.
56 min: Chris Lawrence is bundled into touch on the first tackle from the scrum, summing up the Tigers day.
57 min: Penalty Tigers. South Sydney concede the penalty in possession for not playing the ball properly - getting to both feet.
58 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Tigers try to Fitzhenry. Checking onside and grounding.
58 min: No Try. Fitzhenry ruled to have knocked the ball on trying to ground it. The Tigers day cannot possibly get any worse.
65 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Colin Best. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
A pin-point kick from Chris Sandow lands perfectly onto Best's chest as he scores the simplest of tries.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 40-6
69 min: Penalty Tigers. Talanoa penalised for a double-movement.
70 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible South Sydney try. Nathan Merritt appears to have knocked on, but video referee Hampstead will have a look.
70 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Nathan Merritt. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
Nathan Merritt scores his third try and hooker Isaac Luke will have the chance to record South Sydney's biggest ever winning margin and total score at the SCG in 318 matches.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 46-6
72 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Fetuli Talanoa. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke unsuccessful.
Talanoa scores the try which sends the Rabbitohs to the half-century! It is the first time in a long time the Rabbitohs have scored 50 points in a match and they aren't finished yet.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 50-6
79 min: TRY
TRY Wests Tigers
Scored by Chris Lawrence. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful.
Lawrence scores a consolation try for the Tigers after the free-wheeling Rabbitohs looked to score one more try for their fans.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 50-10
80 min: Fulltime here at the SCG where the Rabbitohs have run out comprehensive victors 50-10, in the process equalling their biggest ever winning margin at the SCG and the single most points scored by the club at the SCG.