South Sydney march on over Bulldogs

A record South Sydney home crowd at ANZ Stadium were treated to a well contested Good Friday afternoon clash between the Bulldogs and the Rabbitohs which the Rabbits took out 20 points to 10.

Both sides started strongly in attack and defence to make for an enthralling contest. It took a rare first half mistake to create the opportunity needed to open the scoring. The scoring was opened by some good second man play from the Bulldogs to put Turner in to score in the 12th minute.

South Sydney were awarded the first penalty of the match in the 16th minute and in the 18th they had hit back thanks to some Reynolds and Everingham brilliance putting Matt King in to score. Reynolds converted and Souths claimed the lead.

A South Sydney error in their set following the try gave the Bulldogs an invitation to strike right back and that they did in the 21st minute when Sam Kasiano put David Stagg in to score between the posts.

The Rabbitohs seized an opportunity to strike back in the shadows of half time when a penalty helped them start a set on the Bulldogs' 20 metre line. A decision was sent upstairs where Steve Clark gave Everingham a green light and four points of his own. Reynolds nailed a difficult conversion giving Souths a 12-10 lead going into half time.

The second half commenced with the Bulldogs doing everything they could to help Souths take a more substantial lead. A Michael Ennis penalty gave Souths all the opportunity they needed and after a smart kick over the top, Everingham was in for his second in the 46th minute.

The play that followed saw a mixed bag from the Bulldogs who fought hard to get back into the match, but were a little too undisciplined in the fight, throwing the ball away at vital times. The Dogs also weren't helped by a switched on South Sydney back line, with Adam Reynolds having a stellar game and Greg Inglis back to his barnstorming best making 2 line breaks.

Souths had all but taken the game out of the Bulldogs' reach with 7 minutes left to play before finding their own way back onto the attack. The Bulldogs defence was good enough to prevent any more tries but after a couple of penalties right in front, Souths managed to put one final nail in the coffin in the final minute to seal a 20 - 10 victory.

Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 defeated Canterbury Bulldogs 10
National Rugby League - Round 6 - Friday April 6, 2012 4:00pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins and Gavin Badger
Video Referee: Steve Clark
Touch Judges: Paul Holland and Dave Munro
Crowd: 35,221
Halftime: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 Canterbury Bulldogs 10

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Adam Reynolds (3 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
2 Points - Greg Inglis
1 Point - Sam Kasiano

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (20)
Tries: Matt King, Andrew Everingham (2)
Field Goals: Adam Reynolds (0/1)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (10)
Tries: Steve Turner, David Stagg
Conversions: Steve Turner (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Join the conversation! Our forums are open for discussion 24/7 on the greatest game of all!

If you love Twitter, you'll love @LeagueUnlimited! Today's official NRL match hashtag is #NRLsoucby Happy Easter from League Unlimited and Good Afternoon from ANZ Stadium for the first of the Good Friday clashes. First up we have the 12th placed South Sydney Rabbitohs taking on the second placed Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
The curtain was raised this afternoon with a close Toyota Cup encounter which saw the Rabbits under 20s side get home over the young Bulldogs by 2 points, taking the match with a 26-24 victory.
TEAM NEWS: None to report, both the Bulldogs and the Rabbitohs are 1 through 17 as per the Big League Program. Check the Team Lists tab for full sides.
1 min: Issac Luke kicks off giving the Bulldogs the first use of the football and the match in under way.
2 min: Terrible end to a great opening set from the Bulldogs and Souths have a scrum 40 out from their own line.
5 min: Both sides carting the ball forward well, but last tackle options have not been the best.
8 min: Both sides are continuing to hit up hard and making good metres in the process, but credit to both lines of defence who have been solid.
9 min: Crocker knocks the ball forward in defence and this could be a costly Bunnies' error, with the Bulldogs getting a scrum 45 out from the South Sydney line.
13 min: TRY
TRY to the Bulldogs!
Magnificent second man play from the Bulldogs back liners who get it out to the far right for Steve Turner to burrow in and score. Turner's attempt at conversion hits the upright and is waved away.
Canterbury Bulldogs 4-0
16 min: Asotasi is limping off the field and is being assisted into the tunnel after copping some friendly fire.
16 min: First PENALTY of the match goes the way of the Rabbitohs and they get a piggy back to the Canterbury Bankstown 30 metre line.
18 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible South Sydney TRY.
19 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbitohs!
Reynolds puts a kick up on the third and Goodwin blunders an attempt to collect it, a superb flick of a ball flirting with the sideline from Everingham finds Matt King who runs to a better position to give Reynolds an easy shot at goal.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-4
20 min: Crocker knocks on and the Bulldogs are handed a great opportunity to counter attack with a gift of a scrum on the South Sydney 20.
22 min: TRY
TRY to ther Bulldogs!
And the Bulldogs do hit back, great short passing, beautiful inside pass from Kasiano puts Stagg in under the posts. Turner converts.
Canterbury Bulldogs 10-6
24 min: Inglis slides into position to catch a ball and it just pops out to give the Bulldogs some more great field position.
25 min: And the Bulldogs squander that opportunity.
29 min: The intensity has returned to this game and ANZ Stadium is being treated to a great contest.
30 min: Keating forces a line drop out with a smart grubber and the Bulldogs have a repeat set.
32 min: The Bulldogs were looking good in attack, but a strong tackle from Corrigan and Farrell forces Turner into touch and gives the Bunnies a scrum with loose head and feed.
34 min: Josh Reynolds cops an accidental knee to the head, he releases the ball and stays down.
36 min: Dylan Farrell is receiving some attention on field for something.
37 min: A PENALTY goes the way of the Rabbitohs and they are piggy backed to the Bulldogs' 20 metre line.
39 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible South Sydney TRY.
40 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbitohs!
Reynolds puts a kick in on the second tackle and some Bulldogs ill-discipline helps Everingham put himself in for a try. Reynolds converts and South have the lead.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12-10
40 min: The half time hooter blows and South Sydney will take a 2 point lead into the interval.
41 min: Second half under way.
42 min: Terrible start to the half from the Bulldogs and they have gifted the Rabbits a wonderful opportunity early in the half, handing them a scrum 20 out.
44 min: Wonderful bomb collection from Turner and he earns a miraculous 20 metre restart.
45 min: Insane kick return from Greg Inglis out of his own in goal cleaning up a beautiful boot and Souths have made it past half way.
45 min: PENALTY South Sydney, against Ennis for a high shot and he is put on report.
48 min: TRY
TRY to the Rabbitohs
Smart kick over the top and Andrew Everingham scores an unbelievable try. He's on a hat-trick. Conversion attempt from Reynolds is beautifully slotted, it hits the upright and bounces in.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-10
50 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
The Rabbitohs keep the ball alive on the fifth and out of nowhere Reynolds takes a shot at field goal, but it's wide.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-10
53 min: A poorly executed pass from the Bulldogs hits the touchie on the chest.
55 min: Another big line break from Greg Inglis and somehow Barba stops him with a one on one tackle forcing him to play the ball 26 out from the Canterbury Bankstown line.
55 min: A Souths error undoes the work, Bulldogs have a scrum.
56 min: And now Souths concede their first PENALTY of the match.
58 min: Another PENALTY to the Bulldogs, this right in front, against Asotasi who is also put on report for a high shot.
59 min: Knock on from South Sydney 2 metres out, the Bulldogs really need to score here.
60 min: Bulldogs surrender possession with a knock on.
63 min: PENALTY from a scrum to the Rabbitohs.
64 min: Magnificent under pressure aerial take from Steve Turner gets the Bulldogs right off the hook, handing them an optional restart at the 20.
65 min: PENALTY South Sydney on their 40 metre mark.
67 min: Double knock on, the first was from Taylor, scrum Bulldogs.
69 min: South Sydney knock on near half way, opportunity to the Bulldogs here.
70 min: A kick off the back of the scrum forces a line drop out, interesting tactic.
71 min: Bulldogs hand the ball over on the sixth.
72 min: King drops the ball on his own 20, the Bulldogs will have to score here if they want any chance of getting back into this game.
73 min: McQueen marks a kick in goal, hard to see South Sydney losing from here.
74 min: Video referee adjudication forces the Bulldogs to make a line drop out.
76 min: Fifth tackle PENALTY against the Bulldogs half a metre out.
77 min: Souths force a line drop out and their fans erupt, believing they have got this.
78 min: Another PENALTY to Souths right on the Bulldogs line, this time they go for the 2.
79 min: PENALTY GOAL
And Adam Reynolds collects them.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-10
80 min: Short kick off and Souths are in great position to score again.
80 min: Souths score a drop out which won't happen and they have taken the game 20 points to ten with the hooter going off.