Souths deny gallant Gold Coast

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have secured their fifth consecutive victory, fighting off a late comeback from the Titans to win 22-18 in front of 20,187 fans at Skilled Park.

While Souths took the lead into the break, it was the home side who drew first blood in only the 11th minute after Steve Michaels opened the scoring courtesy of a bomb into the in goal from Scott Prince. Prince converted the try.

A few penalties and line breaks saw the Titans with several opportunities to extend their lead in the next passage of play but the Rabbitohs defence proved too strong.

The Rabbitohs went 90 metres in one set to hit back through Dylan Farrell in the 24th minute. Adam Reynolds added the extras to level the scores.

A rare try assist to Sam Burgess allowed Souths to claim the lead through Justin Hunt in the 35th minute. Reynolds failed to add the extras leaving the Rabbits lead at four-points.

The Titans were given a chance to hit back within the final minute of the half after Ashley Harrison into a gap, but Matt King saved the day for the Rabbitohs to see the home side go into the break trailing despite a dominant first half.

The second half kicked off with some exciting end-to-end football with both teams threatening their opposition's try lines in the opening ten minutes of the half, but neither team managed to get over until the 51st minute when Andrew Everinham scored a 90 metre intercept try.

Hunt claimed his double in the 60th minute on the back of a Titans' error. Reynolds added the extras.

Some Prince brilliance in the 72nd minute created a try for Aidan Sezer to put the Titans back in the match, Prince added the extras to narrow the gap to 10.

Prince was masterful again after putting up a neat little chip kick 40 out forcing a mistake from Michael Crocker. Kevin Gordon scored in the left corner following the scrum, Prince converted from the touch line setting the match up for a thrilling finish.

With just over a minute left in the match and 100-metres to the try line the Titans through it all at the Rabbitohs' defence, but the Rabbitohs' defence held strong.

Today's victory sees the Rabbitohs reclaim second spot on the competition ladder, they will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Manly Sea Eagles at Blue Tongue Stadium next weekend. 

As for the Titans, a win to the Tigers tomorrow night will see them fall out of the top eight, they take on the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park next weekend. 

Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 18 were defeated by South Sydney Rabbitohs 22
National Rugby League - Round 22 - Sunday August 5, 2012 3:00pm
Venue: Skilled Park
Referee: Ben Cummins and Phil Haines
Video Referee: Sean Hampstead
Touch Judges: Steve Carrall and Chris Butler
Crowd: 20,187
Halftime: Gold Coast Titans 6 South Sydney Rabbitohs 10

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - John Sutton
2 Points - Scott Prince (3 Conversions)
1 Point - Dave Taylor

Gold Coast Titans (18)
Tries: Steve Michaels, Kevin Gordon, Aidan Sezer
Conversions: Scott Prince (3/3)

South Sydney Rabbitohs (22)
Tries: Dylan Farrell, Justin Hunt (2), Andrew Everingham
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good afternoon and welcome to League Unlimited's coverage LIVE from Skilled Park as we bring you the Gold Coast Titans taking on the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Just the one change this afternoon to the teams. Titans are 1-17, while the Rabbitohs see Luke Burgess shift to the starting side with Eddy Pettybourne benched.
1 min: We are under way at Skilled Park!
2 min: The Titans receive the first penalty of the match after Sam Burgess is pinned for a high shot on William Zilman, the Titans will kick for touch 20 out from their own line.
4 min: Scott Prince grubbers from 10 out on the last but Matt King cleans it up a metre out from his own line.
7 min: Zilman loses the ball 25 out from Rabbitohs' goal line just as the Titans were beginning to threaten.
13 min: TRY
TRY! Prince bombs into the in goal from 30 out from the last and Andrew Everingham spills the ball into the arms of Steve Michaels who scores. Prince converts from the left touch line.
Gold Coast Titans 6-0
18 min: The Rabbitohs will get a full set of six just short of halfway after a by Zilman.
19 min: Zilman cleans up a John Sutton grubber a few metres out from his own line.
20 min: Titans receive a penalty 30 out from their own line.
22 min: Titans receive a penalty on the fourth tackle and will get another set of six.
23 min: The Rabbitohs hold on after Chris McQueen deflects a Sezer grubber.
25 min: TRY
TRY! The Rabbitohs run it on the last before Dylan Farrell chips through to Sutton who passes back to Farrell who scores. Adam Reynolds converts from in front.
6 all
27 min: Prince slices through the Rabbits' defence and offloads to Sezer who is tackled only eight metres out from the line on tackle four.
27 min: The Rabbits survive again.
28 min: Farrell is tackled into touch n halfway.
31 min: Mead is tackled into touch on the fourth and the Rabbits survive again.
34 min: Possible try to Mead!
34 min: No try! The Rabbitohs will receive a penalty for an illegal challenge.
36 min: Justin Hunt may have a try for the Rabbitohs here!
36 min: TRY
TRY! Burgess puts up a cross-field kick and Sutton throws a quick flick pass which finds Justin Hunt on the bounce. Reynolds fails to convert.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10-6
40 min: Titans are on the attack with two tackles in hand after Idris puts Ashley Harrison into a gap.
40 min: Matt King saves the day for the Rabbitohs and they will ruck it out of their own half to close out the first 40.
41 min: Zilman gets us under way in the second half.
47 min: Titans are in Rabbitohs' territory on tackle four.
47 min: Merrit cleans up for the Rabbits.
47 min: Taylor goes straight through and steps away from Zilman before passing to Farrell who drops the ball 40 out from the try line.
48 min: The Titans spread it out wide 10 out and Farrell grabs an intercept and streaks away before being tackled 40 out from his own line.
49 min: King knocks on trying to take a Sutton bomb and the Titans are off the hook.
50 min: The Titans receive a penalty on half way.
52 min: TRY
TRY! Everingham takes an intercept 10 out from his own line and runs 90 metres to score. Reynolds adds the extras.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16-6
56 min: Hunt knocks on over the try line after the Rabbitohs find some space over the try line.
57 min: Prince finds some space up the middle and offloads to Michaels, but Michaels knocks on 20 out.
60 min: Souths are on the attack after Zilman knocks on 40 out from his own line.
62 min: TRY
TRY! Hunt has his double. Reynolds adds the extras.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-6
66 min: Prince forces a line drop out.
67 min: The Titans butcher another opportunity after Myles attempts a poor offload.
69 min: The Rabbitohs are pinned for a forward pass on half way and the Titans will get a scrum.
70 min: The Titans cough up possession on the first tackle.
71 min: The Titans have ball on half way after Gordon pounced on a loose ball.
73 min: TRY
TRY! Prince grubbers into the in goal for Sezer who scores under the posts. Prince adds the extras to make it a 10-point ball game.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-12
74 min: Mark Minichiello loses the ball on half way after making a half break.
75 min: Zilman cleans up a Reynolds grubber a metre out from his own line.
77 min: Crocker knocks on a Prince chip 25 out from his own line and the Titans have the ball only 25 out.
78 min: TRY
TRY! Gordon scores in the left corner after the Titans spread it out wide. Prince converts from the left touch line.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-18
80 min: The Titans are pinned for a forward pass 40 out from the Rabbitohs goal line on the fourth.
80 min: The Rabbitohs ruck it out of their half as the hooter sounds and that's the game, the Rabbitohs have survived a late comeback from the Titans to win 22-18.