StephenP
ArnoldSouths reclaim Charity Shield
March 1st 2008 11:40
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have reclaimed the annual Charity Shield with an entertaining 24-20 victory over the St George-Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium tonight, with star Souths recruit Craig Wing starring in a successful return.
The talented, former Rabbitohs junior, crossed for the match winning try in the 74th minute, impressing the 25,127 strong crowd with his general leadership and direction.
In an open and exciting mach, St George-Illawarra fought back from an early 12-0 deficit to snatch the lead with 15 minutes remaining, before a determined Wing barrelled between three Dragons defenders to seal the result.
With both teams showing a hint of nerves early, it was a spritely Rabbitohs side that opened the scoring in the 14th minute through an opportunist’s try to centre Yileen Gordon.
After dominating both possession and territory, a pinpoint cross field kick from Rabbitohs half Ben Rogers found winger Germaine Paulson, with the gangly Souths winger able to fly high and bat the ball back to Gordon to score the simplest of tries.
Rookie Souths hooker Isaac Luke converted from wide out to hand the Bunnies a 6-0 lead.
An energetic Rabbitohs were in again just eight minutes later, with a perfectly executed blindside move from Rogers and David Kidwell allowing an unmarked Paulson to score in the corner.
Luke’s swirling sideline conversion attempt just grazed the goalpost, leaving the Rabbitohs with a deserved 10-0 advantage.
A 29th minute penalty goal to the livewire Souths hooker pushed the Rabbitohs out to a handy 12-0 lead, with a rusty St George-Illawarra outfit struggling to contain an up-tempo Souths attack.
The Dragons finally got on the board just four minutes out from half-time owever, with a pinpoint Rangi Chase grubber allowing speedy St George-Illawarra half Jamie Soward to dot down under the posts.
Soward’s timely conversion brought the Dragons back into the contest, with the Rabbitohs going into the break with a 12-6 advantage.
The Dragons returned in the second half breathing fire, and a sweeping movement by the talented St George-Illawarra backline allowed centre Mark Gasnier enough room to barge over in the 45th minute.
Soward’s sideline conversion swung wide, leaving Souths clinging to a slight 12-10 lead.
Gasnier crossed for his second just minutes later off another majestic Chase grubber kick, with Hornby’s sideline conversion putting the Dragons into the lead for the first time, 14-12.
South snatched back the lead however in the 62nd minute, with reserve half Eddie Paea busting through a tiring Dragons line, before linking with flying fullback Fetuli Talanoa who completed a breathtaking 50 metre movement.
But St George-Illawarra weren’t finished, Soward this time showing blistering speed to streak away and score off the back off a Michael Lett bust, with Hornby’s curling sideline conversion nudging the visitors back out to a 20-18 lead inside the final ten minutes.
But Souths star off-season signing sealed the win for the Rabbitohs when he barged over with six minutes remaining, with Luke’s fourth conversion completing an exciting 24-20 victory.
A hamstring strain to centre Nigel Vagana was Souths only injury concern, whilst the Dragons reported a clean bill of health.
The Rabbitohs will now turn their attentions to traditional season opening clash with the Sydney Roosters, whilst the Dragons will attempt to regroup ahead of their round one match against the Wests Tigers.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24
Tries: Yileen Gordon, Germaine Paulson, Fetuli Talanoa, Craig Wing
Goals: Isaac Luke 4
Defeated
St George-Illawarra Dragons 20
Tries: Mark Gasnier 2, Jamie Soward 2
Goals: Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby
at ANZ Stadium
Referee – Tony Archer
Crowd – 25,127
The talented, former Rabbitohs junior, crossed for the match winning try in the 74th minute, impressing the 25,127 strong crowd with his general leadership and direction.
In an open and exciting mach, St George-Illawarra fought back from an early 12-0 deficit to snatch the lead with 15 minutes remaining, before a determined Wing barrelled between three Dragons defenders to seal the result.
With both teams showing a hint of nerves early, it was a spritely Rabbitohs side that opened the scoring in the 14th minute through an opportunist’s try to centre Yileen Gordon.
After dominating both possession and territory, a pinpoint cross field kick from Rabbitohs half Ben Rogers found winger Germaine Paulson, with the gangly Souths winger able to fly high and bat the ball back to Gordon to score the simplest of tries.
Rookie Souths hooker Isaac Luke converted from wide out to hand the Bunnies a 6-0 lead.
An energetic Rabbitohs were in again just eight minutes later, with a perfectly executed blindside move from Rogers and David Kidwell allowing an unmarked Paulson to score in the corner.
Luke’s swirling sideline conversion attempt just grazed the goalpost, leaving the Rabbitohs with a deserved 10-0 advantage.
A 29th minute penalty goal to the livewire Souths hooker pushed the Rabbitohs out to a handy 12-0 lead, with a rusty St George-Illawarra outfit struggling to contain an up-tempo Souths attack.
The Dragons finally got on the board just four minutes out from half-time owever, with a pinpoint Rangi Chase grubber allowing speedy St George-Illawarra half Jamie Soward to dot down under the posts.
Soward’s timely conversion brought the Dragons back into the contest, with the Rabbitohs going into the break with a 12-6 advantage.
The Dragons returned in the second half breathing fire, and a sweeping movement by the talented St George-Illawarra backline allowed centre Mark Gasnier enough room to barge over in the 45th minute.
Soward’s sideline conversion swung wide, leaving Souths clinging to a slight 12-10 lead.
Gasnier crossed for his second just minutes later off another majestic Chase grubber kick, with Hornby’s sideline conversion putting the Dragons into the lead for the first time, 14-12.
South snatched back the lead however in the 62nd minute, with reserve half Eddie Paea busting through a tiring Dragons line, before linking with flying fullback Fetuli Talanoa who completed a breathtaking 50 metre movement.
But St George-Illawarra weren’t finished, Soward this time showing blistering speed to streak away and score off the back off a Michael Lett bust, with Hornby’s curling sideline conversion nudging the visitors back out to a 20-18 lead inside the final ten minutes.
But Souths star off-season signing sealed the win for the Rabbitohs when he barged over with six minutes remaining, with Luke’s fourth conversion completing an exciting 24-20 victory.
A hamstring strain to centre Nigel Vagana was Souths only injury concern, whilst the Dragons reported a clean bill of health.
The Rabbitohs will now turn their attentions to traditional season opening clash with the Sydney Roosters, whilst the Dragons will attempt to regroup ahead of their round one match against the Wests Tigers.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 24
Tries: Yileen Gordon, Germaine Paulson, Fetuli Talanoa, Craig Wing
Goals: Isaac Luke 4
Defeated
St George-Illawarra Dragons 20
Tries: Mark Gasnier 2, Jamie Soward 2
Goals: Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby
at ANZ Stadium
Referee – Tony Archer
Crowd – 25,127
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