Round 2
South Sydney Rabbitohs 31 d. Parramatta Eels 6

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Rabbitohs smash Eels mixed with Merritt magic
Mon March 26, 2007
Source: www.souths.com.au

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have punished the Parramatta Eels 31 points to six at Telstra Stadium this afternoon (Sunday) in front of 15,165 fans.

The Eels had no answers to the Rabbitohs tight defence and imaginative attacking options, with the Rabbitohs completely dominating their opposition on all fronts.

The Rabbitohs led the Eels at the break by a 12-six margin, after some committed defence and dangerous attacking raids on the fringes of the ruck.

Renowned try scorer Nathan Merritt opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he touched down in the left hand corner. The try was set up in the prior set-of-six, with fullback David Peachey offloading a fantastic ball to Merritt on his own 20 metre line, who charged 60 metres down field. An ensuing penalty led to the try in the next set, with Merritt scoring out wide.

The Rabbitohs dodged two bullets in 24th and 25th minutes when video referee Steve Clark denied the Eels two tries. On the first occassion, Rabbitohs hooker Daniel Irvine was sin-binned for ten minutes when it was deemed he held back PJ Marsh when he was trying to score a try.

The Rabbitohs defended for the middle 20 minute period of the half, not seeing much of the ball.

In the 31st minute, Joe Williams extended the Rabbitohs lead to six with a penalty goal, with the Rabbitohs holding strong in defence for the ten minute period in which they were reduced to 12 men.

In the 35th minute, the Eels leveled the scores at six-all through a try to Rugby-bound Timana Tahu and the conversion to Luke Burt.

In the 39th minute, Rabbitohs winger Paul Mellor scored a try and Williams' conversion gave the Rabbitohs the six-point buffer at the break. Jeremy Smith slid across field and put captain David Kidwell through a gap. Kidwell charged ahead before flicking a ball out wide right to Mellor who scooted around the defence to score.

The Rabbitohs looked dangerous on the fringes, with Kidwell and Dean Widders causing their opposition, and former team mates, plenty of problems. The Rabbitohs were defending well again, picking up where they left off against the Roosters the week before.

The try of the season so far was scored by Rabbitohs try scoring freak Merritt in the 43rd minute. The Rabbitohs ran the ball on the last tackle, with Williams finding Jeremy Smith on his left. Smith chip kicked for Merritt on the left wing from the halfway line. Merritt steadied, chipped over Joel Reddy, regathered the ball and ran 35 metres, tip-toeing up the sideline, to score in the corner.

A penalty goal nine minutes later to Williams extended the lead to 12, with the Rabbitohs continuing to defend solidly on their own line.

In the 61st minute, Kiwi second-rower David Fa'alogo scored a four-pointer. Prop Roy Asotasi charged at the line and got a quick play-the-ball away. Williams took the ball at first receiver and threw a beautiful short pass to Fa'alogo to crash over. Williams converted to extend the lead to 24-six.

Five minutes late, Williams popped over a field goal to give the Rabbitohs an unassailable 19-point lead.

The video referee denied Daniel Irvine a try in the 68th minute, before Nigel Vagana scored his third try in two games in the 69th minute. In a perfectly worked set move, the Rabbitohs went right, through Joe Williams to David Peachey, the pass going behind to decoy runners. Peachey ran to the line and put Vagana in the hole to score. Williams' fifth conversion gave the Rabbitohs the 31-six victory.

The Rabbitohs commitment to defence, in particular, was epitomised by the 73rd minute tackle by Roy Asotasi on Eels five-eighth Brett Finch. Finch drifted across field and Asotasi snapped him in two in one of the biggest hits seen this year.

Click here to read quotes from Jason Taylor and Peter Cusack

Report source: www.souths.com.au


Rabbitohs Announce Team for Round Two Against Eels
Tue March 20, 2007
Source: www.souths.com.au

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their side to take on the Parramatta Eels in round two of the NRL Telstra Premiership this Sunday, 25 March at 3pm at Telstra Stadium.

The Rabbitohs have named an unchanged line up for their first home game of the year, after defeating the Sydney Roosters yesterday at Aussie Stadium.

Rabbitohs' Reece Simmonds (small fracture through the wrist - 2 weeks) and Stuart Webb (contusion to his ribs - 1 week) were not considered for selection due to injury.

The referee for this fixture is Sean Hampstead. The sideline officials are Allen Foster and Matt Cecchin. The video referee is Steve Clark.

The Rabbitohs NRL side is:

1. David Peachey
2. Nathan Merritt
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Shannon Hegarty
5. Paul Mellor
6. Jeremy Smith
7. Joe Williams
8. Peter Cusack (c)
9. Daniel Irvine
10. Roy Asotasi
11. David Kidwell (c)
12. David Fa'alogo
13. John Sutton

Interchange:

14. Shane Rigon
15. Dean Widders
16. Luke Stuart
17. Scott Geddes
18. Manase Manuokafoa

Coach - Jason Taylor

News sent by: www.souths.com.au

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