Souths all but secure finals appearance

by NRL

South Sydney have all but secured a finals appearance in 2012 with a conmmanding 32-6 victory over the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium.

The Rabbitohs scored five tries to one, but equallu as pleasing was their ability to hold out the flashy Tigers' attack, with the men from Wests only scoring one try which came from a kick.

Amazingly, on Junior Appreciation Day, all of the Rabbitohs' points came from players who have played in, and devleoped their skills in, the South Juniors competition.

The Rabbitohs were under pressure early from the Tigers but were able to sustain their defensive wall, denying the Tigers any points early on in the match.

The Rabbitohs finally turned the tide and got themselves into an attacking position, enabling hooker and La Perouse junior Nathan Peats to cross the first of two first half tries from close range. Kensington United and Alexandria Rovers junior Adam Reynolds added the extras to give the Rabbitohs a six-nil lead after 17 minutes of play.

Reynolds potted a penalty goal five minutes later from 40 metres out in front, extending the lead to eight.

A long break from Chriss McQueen and two penalties from within ten metres of the Tigers' line lead to the next points, with Peats again diving over from dummy half despite the best efforts of Tigers fullback Beau Ryan. Reynolds' conversion extended the lead to 14 after 24 minutes.

The Rabbitohs' defence held strong again when hulking Wests front rower Aaron Woods was held up over the line in the 32nd minute, and on the next set of six the Rabbitohs laid on their third try to the man destined to become the Rabbitohs' greatest ever try scorer.

A huge bust was made up the middle by Kensington United and Coogee Wombats junior John Sutton. Sutton was in space and had support in the form of Alexandria Rovers junior Nathan Merritt. Merritt charged the 40 metres to score the try which started 70 metres out from the goal line by Sutton. Reynolds converted to take the scoreline to 20-nil in favour of the men in cardinal and myrtle.

The 'Coal Train' was particularly destructive in the first half, toying with the Tigers' left side defence, and the backs were making the most of the work being done by the big men up front.

The Rabbitohs were involved in an arm wrestle to start the second half, taking 16 minutes to register their next points.

It was Dylan Farrell, who won an under 17s premiership with La Perouse, who scored following another play set up by a Souths Junior combination. Mascot Jets junior Eddy Pettybourne went the blind side right and got the ball away to Reynolds. Reynolds turned the Tigers inside out with a weaving run, before offloading to Farrell who touched down adjacent to the posts. Reynolds converted giving the Rabbitohs an unassailable 26-nil lead.

South Sydney went straight back on the attack, scoring a try four minutes later through Coogee Randwick Wombats junior Jason Clark in the 60th minute of play. A solid run from second rower McQueen set up the field position and good, hard charge at the line from Clark gave him the four-pointer. Reynolds converted to take the scoreline to 32-nil with 20 minutes left on the clock.

The Rabbitohs did not allow any points to be scored against them until the 67th minute when Benji Marshall followed through a Robbie Farah grubber kick, the video referee ruling a try. Marshall converted his own try to take the scoreline to 32-6.

South Sydney fought hard right until the siren, sealing another solid win which has taken them to 30 competition points and outright second on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder with only five rounds remaining in the competition.

The Rabbitohs will now prepare to take on the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park next Sunday at 3pm.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 32 (Nathan Peats 2, Nathan Merritt, Dylan Farrell, Jason Clark tries; Adam Reynolds 6 goals)
defeated
Wests Tigers 6 (Benji Marshall try; Benji Marshall goal)

Your thoughts?