Sensational Souths run riot over Tigers

South Sydney produced the perfect first half display to defeat Wests 29 points to 18 in front of 18.245 fans at ANZ Stadium.

From the opening whistle, Souths looked on their game and ready to pounce. In the seventh minute, they did, Michael Crocker was held up but Souths went wide and Nathan Merritt pounced for his 100th try for South Sydney.

Once the makeshift forward pack of Souths got on top, everything flowed off that. They caught the Tigers offside, allowing Sandow to make it an eight point lead after 13 minutes.

Ben Ross showed he has more to his game then just taking the ball up when he offloaded for Luke who drew the fullback and sent Rhys Wesser away to open the floodgates for the Rabbitohs.

After the early onslaught, Wests never looked in the game, making simple errors like dropped ball and relaxing off a drop-out. The latter led to Talanoa scoring in the corner to sink the hearts of the Tigers more.

It seemed every set, the fast men from the Rabbitohs would scoot from dummy-half and make easy metres.

Dylan Farrell took advantage of some sloppy defense to make it 26 points to nothing going into halftime. Chris Sandow had a perfect night with the boot and added a field goal to his tally right on halftime.

Coming back from 27 points down wasn't going to be easy but the deficit was shortened when Robbie Farah went himself to get the Tigers on the board.

They doubled their score in the 53rd minute when Matt Utai crossed on his second chance, making it 27-12 with over half an hour to play.

Sadly the comeback was short lived, errors crept into the Tigers game again through Marshall and Fulton. Sandow gleefully accepted and made it a 17 point ball game, forcing Marshall to be pinpoint with any conversions.

The game would liven up, with a Marshall try, which made it a two try game but Souths would be resolute in defense and snuffed out the Tigers resistance to win 29 points to 18. Souths bank a valuable two points before a tough trip to New Zealand next week.

Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 29 defeated Wests Tigers 18
National Rugby League - Round 10 - Saturday May 14, 2011 7:30pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Steve Lyons
Video Referee: Rod Lawrence
Touch Judges: Daniel Eastwood and Adam Reid
Crowd: 18,245
Halftime: South Sydney Rabbitohs 27 Wests Tigers 0

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Chris Sandow (4 Conversions, 2 Penalty Goals, 1 Field Goal)
2 Points - Rhys Wesser (1 Try)
1 Point - Robbie Farah (1 Try)

South Sydney Rabbitohs (29)
Tries: Rhys Wesser, Nathan Merritt, Fetuli Talanoa, Dylan Farrell
Field Goals: Chris Sandow (1/1)
Conversions: Chris Sandow (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Chris Sandow (2/2)

Wests Tigers (18)
Tries: Matthew Utai, Robbie Farah, Benji Marshall
Conversions: Benji Marshall (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to a chilly ANZ stadium for tonights clash between South Sydney and Wests Tigers. This is normally a fixture, which produces a lot of points, hopefully it doesn't disappoint.
There is only change and it's due to an off field matter. James Roberts is dropped for Fetuli Talanoa, Wests are 1-17. Earlier in the u20s, Wests ran away with it 38 points to 14.
1 min: Here come the Tigers, lead out by Robbie Farah, they will run from left to right on your screen. South Sydney are led out by new captain, Michael Crocker and will kick off. Chris Sandow gets tonight's game underway!
2 min: Both sides have completed their first sets, souths fans already booing.
5 min: Early movement in the tackle count from Wests but it's spoiled by a dropped ball by Heighington.
7 min: High tackle by Benji Marshall. Souths will have the first attacking opportunity.
9 min: TRY
Michael Crocker goes close but he's held up. Off the next play, Sandow tries to get it to his wide men but is forced to kick, Nathan Merritt swoops on the ball for his 100th try. Sandow converts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0
10 min: Not the best thing after conceding a try, giving away a penalty for a hand on the ball. Souths kick it deep downfield to make the Tigers run it back.
12 min: More pressure here on the Tigers, another silly penalty this time for offside. Sandow opts for the penalty goal.
13 min: PENALTY GOAL
Sandow has no trouble with the penalty goal from in front.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 8-0
14 min: Relief here for Wests, Luke tries to play the ball too fast and drops it. Marshall's last tackle option just goes dead.
Rhys Wesser might have a try, checking for obstruction.
17 min: TRY
A good offload from Ben Ross starts some second phase play for Souths, with Issac Luke going through a hole and drawing the fullback before passing to Wesser to score under the posts. Sandow from right in front, slots it again.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 14-0
19 min: A break here fit the Tigers, Farah almost failed to find touch off a penalty but Talanoa knocks it on. Scrum Tigers.
21 min: Not the finest piece of football for either side. Wests were pinged again for a penalty but Souths dropped it early in the count.
23 min: Souths are making metres at will here, just off quick play the balls and offloads. Unfortunately they went one too many, crocker dropping it.
28 min: Dear oh dear, Matt Utai drops a simple one on his own forty. Souths throw a forward pass off the scrum, simply unforgivable. Compounded by a scrum penalty for breaking early.
30 min: Tigers are playing some globetrotter type football here, just refusing to die in the tackle. They fling it wide right and Robert Lui stabs one in-goal for Talanoa to be trapped.
31 min: That is quite disgraceful. Wests relax on the drop out and let it bounce over the sideline for a South Sydney feed.
34 min: TRY
John Sutton launches one high on last, it's batted back by McPherson to McQueen who stabs one through for Talanoa to dive on and score. Referees are happy with it and point to the spot. Sandow with his toughest kick of the night, just swings it in for two more points.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-0
South Sydney are unstoppable atm, checking if Farrell scored.
37 min: TRY
A quick dummy half scoot from Luke who see's Wesser on his inside, giving him the ball and into open space but he's wrapped up. Next play Souths shift it wide and Farrell powers his way over. Sandow who has had a perfect night with the boot, can do no wrong tonight.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-0
39 min: FIELD GOAL
Nothing doing for South Sydney, Chris Sandow just calmly slots the field goal.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 27-0
41 min: It's a long way back for the Tigers, here they come for the second half. South Sydney are second out of the change rooms and take their positions to receive the kick off. Marshall kicks off.
45 min: Warning shot from Wests, a kick just holds up in goal, for a dropout.
47 min: TRY
Finally some points. Farah goes himself from dummy half and slices through the defense to slam it down. Marshall converts from in front.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 27-6
48 min: The tide might be turning here, Dave Taylor is pinged for lying in the ruck.
50 min: Rhys Wesser is having a wow of a game, going through a hole again but he's caught for the changeover.
51 min: Wests are on the attack here and try to run it on the last. Marshall launches one for Utai but it's judged forward.
53 min: TRY
They won't deny him this time! From the Talanoa error, Farah scoots down the blind and passes to Utai who spins and scores a try. Marshall with a pressure kick, from the sideline and he strikes it beautifully.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 27-12
54 min: Where there is light, there is hope but it won't come now. Marshall with a small fumble, enough to be judged a knock on.
55 min: Penalties like this won't help, with Fulton being pinged. Souths point to the posts again.
57 min: PENALTY GOAL
For the second time, it's straight over the black dot.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 29-12
59 min: A perfect 40/20 kick here for Souths which may be the knock out blow.
59 min: The coal train, Dave Taylor steamrolls Benji Marshall and tries to pop a pass, it's knocked down by Ayshford. So it'll be six again.
Rhys Wesser seems to be held up but double checking with the video.
60 min: NO TRY! Wesser was held up, it'll be third tackle.
65 min: Tigers are pinning the Rabbitohs back but they need points.
69 min: TRY
Some destructive running from Fifita sets up this try. On the last tackle, Marshall steps his way over for a try. Benji has to keep kicking these and he does.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 29-18
70 min: Andrew Fifita has become a one man wrecking crew, throwing off five or six Souths players then toeing through the line for himself. He doesn't get the ball but he trap Wesser in goal.
71 min: Cheeky dropout from Sandow, as he catches Fifita on the hop, getting the ball back for Souths.
73 min: Isaac Luke tries to force the issue, knocking the ball on and gigging Wests a set.
Wade McKinnon might have an important try here, checking everything.
74 min: NO TRY! McKinnon has been ruled to have touched it.
75 min: Sandow launches it high on last but it comes to naught as the chasers were offside.
76 min: Wests are on the attack but a nice one on one steal halts the momentum.
78 min: Dropout here, as Wesser is trapped in goal.
79 min: Tigers are just too tired, Ayshford is taken into touch.

80 min: There's the full-time hooter and an important victory for South Sydney.