Round 13
South Sydney Rabbitohs 14 d. Penrith Panthers 4

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

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

Souths grind out Panthers in wild conditions
Sat June 9, 2007
Sydney in recent days has experienced weather like it hasn't seen for nearly a decade and last night Souths produced one of their most disciplined efforts defeating Penrith 14-4 in torrential conditions.

The Rabbitohs produced an excellent performance where they made 39 out of 46 completions and just eight errors whereas Penrith completed 26 out of 38 sets (good considering the weather) and made 15 errors. The Panthers effort in their completions and errors wasn't bad considering the conditions, but it was disappointing compared to Souths.

Paul Mellor in his return to the top grade opened the scoring for Souths in the 5th minute when he was on the spot to collect a well-timed grubber kick from Dean Widders. Nathan Merritt was unable to convert from the sideline as the Rabbitohs led 4-0.

Michael Gordon landed two penalty goals in the 32nd and 40th minutes to bring the Panthers level with Souths at the half-time break.

The second half was a battle of field position with the Rabbitohs superior ball control and kicking game giving them the edge. Penalty goals from Merritt in the 62nd and 72nd minutes pushed Souths up 8-4 with the defining moment happening just moments after Merritt's second penalty goal.

Penrith had the opportunity to steal the match when David Peachey fumbled back a kick from the Panthers only for Michael Jennings to knock it on. Souths regained possession and Peachey scored the match-winner in the final stages with replays showing that it was a 50-50 call at best. Penrith coach Matthew Elliott wasn't impressed with the performance of Paul Simpkins in the post-match press conference and held back in what he said. Once again the performance of referees is the spotlight in what was an old fashioned slug fest, but in saying that Souths were the better team on the night and played the better wet weather football.

An interesting moment occured during the match when Penrith five-eighth Peter Wallace attempted to do a drop out by place kicking the ball. Wallace was involved in a conversion drama two weeks ago when he wanted to drop kick for goal. This time Wallace wanted to place kick and not gamble on the ball being stuck in the water soaked surface bringing back memories of a State of Origin match in 1984 when Noel Cleal's drop out attempt got buried under all the mud at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Thankfully for Wallace once he was ordered by Simpkins that it must be a drop kick managed to get some kind of kick away, which was better than Cleal's effort 23 years ago.


Mellor returns with Hegarty dropped to Premier League
Tue June 5, 2007
Source: www.souths.com.au

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their side to take on the Penrith Panthers in round 13 of the NRL Telstra Premiership this Friday, 8 June at 7:30pm at Telstra Stadium.

Paul Mellor returns to the side this week with Shannon Hegarty moving back to Premier League. Shane Rigon will take a place on the interchange bench with Joe Galuvao being named as 18th man.

The referee for Friday night's match is Paul Simpkins. The sideline officials are Paul Holland and Russell Turner. The video referee is Phil Cooley.

The Rabbitohs NRL side is:

1. David Peachey
2. Nathan Merritt
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Fetuli Talanoa
5. Paul Mellor
6. Ben Rogers
7. Jeremy Smith
8. Peter Cusack (c)
9. Stuart Webb
10. Roy Asotasi (c)
11. Luke Stuart
12. David Fa'alogo
13. Dean Widders

Interchange:
14. Shane Rigon
15. Issac Luke
16. Manase Manuokafoa
17. Scott Geddes
18. Joe Galuvao
(one to be omitted)

News sent by: www.souths.com.au

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