Souths Grind Out Win Over Titans
Words: Tom Skolarikis I Photos: Nrlphotos.com
Sat 30th May, 05:00PM
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The South Sydney Rabbitohs have grinded out a 22-16 victory over the Gold Coast Titans this evening (Saturday), overcoming a determined home-side that refused to throw in the towel.
A try-scoring double to Chris Grevsmuhl as well as tries to Greg Inglis and Aaron Gray proved enough to sink the Titans. But the victory didnt come easily, with key Rabbitohs representatives such as Inglis and George Burgess both leaving the field during a crucial period of the match.
The Rabbitohs earned themselves a repeat set inside the first four minutes of play right on the Titans line following a Titans error. But despite some strong running from the red and greens, the Gold Coast defence held strong to survive.
Another Titans mistake saw the home-side place themselves under yet more pressure with the Rabbitohs attacking strongly. But yet again, the Titans managed to repel the threat.
Incredibly, it would be the home-side who would score first against the run of play after 10 minutes of sustained Rabbitohs pressure Anthony Don getting outside Aaron Gray to score just inside touch to make it 4-0.
Luke Keary tried to spark something when the half managed to step through the Titans defence on a last tackle play before streaking 30 metres and grubber kicking for the wing of Johnston. The Titans diffused the opportunity at the last second by batting the ball over the dead-ball line just ahead of the flying Johnston.
The Rabbitohs finally hit back in the 22nd minute when an attacking raid from short range saw Luke Keary pass on to Inglis, who brutally bumped off a Titans defender before racing through to score behind the posts. But the on-field referee conferred to the video, sending the try upstairs with no-try the call on the grounds of a possible obstruction. The try would ultimately stand after much deliberation with Luke converting from right in front to take the lead by 6-4.
But despite the Rabbitohs being parked down the Titanss side of half-way the red and green were struggling to score points. Another penalty in front of the sticks saw the red and greens opt to run the ball rather than take the two points. The option would prove fruitless, and by the time the Gold Coast got back into Souths half, James Roberts scored out wide to re=take the lead with Sezer converting from out wide to make it 10-6 at half-time.
On the resumption, despite a repeat set to the Titans, it was the Rabbitohs who would be first to score in the second stanza when he hit a John Sutton short-ball hard and scoring to level it up at 10 apiece. Issac Lukes conversion attempt to take the lead hit the upright, leaving the sides all square.
Aaron Gray came within a whisker of scoring moments later when he finished off a Rabbitohs back-line movement. But a desperate Titans defensive effort saw Gray come up just short.
Rabbitohs fans held their collective breath when Inglis stayed down following a failed kick diffusion that saw him hit in the head accidentally by Ryan James. Inglis would not return to the game.
With the scores locked up and Johnston now playing fullback to cover Inglis, Souths stuck to their structures and when given the opportunity on the Titans line, a set play that involved a rare inside ball from Nathan Brown to a flying Alex Johnston saw the Souths Junior streak in under the sticks. Luke made no mistake this time around with the conversion to make it 16-10.
A Kevin Gordon mistake for the Titans deep in their own half was exactly what the Rabbitohs needed and they took full advantage when Grevsmuhl crashed over for his second of the afternoon. Luke converted to make it 22-10.
But the game was far from over. An Aaron Gray error at the beginning of a seven tackle set gave the Titans immediate use of the ball with six minutes in the match remaining with Anthony Don racing over untouched. Sezer converted to make it 22-16.
Souths desperately tried to get the ball out of their red-zone through George Burgess, but a sickening head-clash with a Titans player saw the Englishman lose the ball in vital field position, gifting the ball to the home-side with three minutes remaining.
The Titans would have stolen the game had it not been for the brilliant defence of Alex Johnston, who managed to knock the ball clean out of the Gold Coasts hands over the try-line to deny the home-side.
The Rabbitohs would ultimately hold on to take the victory by 22-16. The victory backs up the Clubs NYC win over the Titans earlier in the day by 30-26.
Rabbitohs 22 (Greg Inglis, Chris Grevsmuhl 2, Alex Johnston, tries; Issac Luke 3 goals)
Defeated
Titans 16 (Anthony Don 2, James Roberts, tries; Aidan Sezer 2 goals)
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