Rabbitohs kept tryless as Bulldogs score another upset

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South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Canterbury-Bankstown have pulled off their third upset in as many weeks, the Bulldogs recording a 14-6 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.

The first half was the definition of a rugby league arm-wrestle with both sides struggling to find space in their opponents defensive line and the fact that each side could only manage the one penalty goal apiece summed things up. The Bulldogs opened the scoring with their penalty goal in the 10th minute after the Rabbitohs were ruled to have been slow from the ruck.

Souths levelled things up just seven minutes later when Adam Reynolds slotted a penalty goal from right in front, after Dylan Napa was penalised for trying to slow down the ruck. The Bulldogs looked likely to score just after the 20 minute mark but it was some strong defence from Adam Doueihi and Dane Gagai that pushed Nick Meaney into touch.

The Rabbitohs got a chance to attack off a wonderfully executed torpedo from Adam Reynolds that bounced for a 40/20 but they couldn't fire a shot and the scores remained level at half-time.

The second half was much of the same as the first half as Adam Reynolds put the Rabbitohs in front after just five minutes of the second half when he slotted another penalty goal and pushed the home side out to a 4-2 lead. Canterbury managed to get the first try of the game as Corey Harawira-Naera chased through a Kieran Foran kick and got to the ball first to score. Nick Meaney missed his conversion meaning the Bulldogs could only manage a two-point lead. 

The Bunnies again levelled the scores with a third penalty goal from right in front of the posts to make it six-all just short of the hour mark. The Bulldogs added their second try of the match when Lachlan Lewis was able to draw in the defence before finding Foran who found Harawira-Naera running a strong line, and got through to score his - and the Bulldogs' - second try.

Try as they might, the hosts couldn't manage to push through the Bulldogs defence and eventually it was Canterbury who were able to send the game beyond reach with a 78th minute penalty goal that sent the scoreline out to 14-6 which is what the game finished at.

Next weekend, the Rabbitohs have a tough task on Friday night as they take on the Brisbane Broncos, whilst the Bulldogs will look to play upset merchants yet again when they take on Parramatta at Bankwest on Thursday night.