Round 20
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 d. Gold Coast Titans 14

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

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

Rabbitohs comeback to defeat Titans
Mon July 30, 2007
Source: www.souths.com.au

A tremendous defensive effort and 12 points in the final eight minutes helped the Rabbitohs to a hard-fought win over the Titans tonight 20-14.

With the game in the balance Souths repelled four successive sets of six on their own line then turned defence into attack at the other end of the park to record tries to Nigel Vagana in the 72nd minute and Dean Widders in the 76th minute and move into the top eight pending results in the rest of round 20.

After the game Souths coach Jason Taylor said he was thrilled with his side's never-say-die spirit.

"I'm really proud of our guys, the way we came through that in the second half was inspirational," he said.

"We just kept coming at them and coming at them and coming at them and we got the points. It's so impressive how they stick together, we've been doing it all year and it is a pleasure to watch. It's inspirational, it's awesome."

The Rabbitohs started the game superbly scoring tries to Fetuli Talanoa in the third minute after he leapt onto a Ben Rogers cross-kick and Eddie Paea, after a jinking 30m run during which he beat four Gold Coast defenders, in the 10th minute to lead 8-0.

But the home side then went over an hour without scoring a point before a grandstand finish. Taylor said his side eased off the throttle after their explosive start.

"We played well in patches, early on and late in the game," he said.

"The points were enormously vital tonight with both teams on the same competition points. The Gold Coast talked all week about how important this game was and they played like a desperate team."

Down 8-0 the Titans fought back through a converted 26th minute try to captain Luke Bailey followed by a Mat Rogers try in the 37th minute to grab the lead 10-8 at half-time.

The Titans then went further ahead in the 47th minute through a Brett Delaney try and looked as thought they may end their four game losing streak.

But after the Rabbitohs repelled wave after wave after wave of Titans attacking sorties, they found a way through at the other end to record their ninth win of the year and move onto 20 competition points.

The Rabbitohs were injury free after the win.

Second rower David Fa'alogo was put on report in the 18th minute for his involvement in a tackle on Titans prop Ian Donnelly.

Centre Shannon Hegarty won the Rabbitohs players' player award for man of the match.

The Rabbitohs next game is against the Panthers on Saturday night August 4 at CUA Stadium at 7.30pm.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 (Talanoa, Paea, Vagana, Widders tries; Merritt two goals) def. Gold Coast Titans 14 (Bailey, Rogers, Delaney tries, Rogers one goal)

News sent by: www.souths.com.au


Rabbitohs announce team for Round 20 against the Titans
Tue July 24, 2007
Source: www.souths.com.au

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their side to take on the Gold Coast Titans in round 20 of the NRL Telstra Premiership this Saturday 28 July at 7:30pm at Telstra Stadium.

The Rabbitohs NRL side is:

1. Nathan Merritt
2. Fetuli Talanoa
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Shannon Hegarty
5. Paul Mellor
6. Ben Rogers
7. Eddie Paea
8. Peter Cusack (c)
9. Issac Luke
10. Roy Asotasi (c)
11. John Sutton
12. David Fa'alogo
13. Dean Widders

Interchange:
14. Shane Rigon
15. Luke Stuart
16. Shannan McPherson
17. Scott Geddes
Coach - Jason Taylor

News sent by: www.souths.com.au

Tue July 24, 2007
• Walker in starting side for Titans
  

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