Reynolds snaps Rabbitohs losing streak

A second half turnaround from the South Sydney Rabbitohs has seen them defeat the St George Illawarra Dragons 16-10, in front of 14126 fans at ANZ Stadium tonight.

The late inclusion of Adam Reynolds, as well as the return of Josh Dugan from injury, set the game up to be an attacking spectacle, but it was defence that was on show tonight.

The first half went the way most people were expecting in the lead up to the game. Both sides were strong defensively - the Dragons had a slight edge in attack, while the Rabbitohs clung to the game by keeping their error rate low.

The scoring started slowly, with both teams opening their account with a penalty goal. The Rabbitohs took first points, after John Sutton was hit high in a lazy high tackle. Sutton struggled with his vision after the hit, and went up the tunnel soon after. The Dragons replied in the 9th minute, as Widdop nailed his first goal attempt of the match.

The Dragons were first to score a try ten minutes later, when a brilliant Merrin offload, followed by a scything Peter Mata'utia run led to Gareth Widdop scoring just left of the posts. Widdop couldn't convert his own try, and the Dragons led 6-2.

The score remained that way until the 33rd minute, when a repeat set led to Aaron Gray diving over in the corner. Adam Reynolds failed with the conversion attempt.

Just prior to halftime, a very deep Benji Marshall ran a block play, and threw a wide ball to Nightingale to score near the corner post. Again Widdop failed with the conversion, and the two teams went to the break with the Dragons leading 10-6.

The Rabbitohs scored early in the second half, when Aaron Gray caught a retreating defensive line and scored his second try of the match. Reynolds' conversion attempt was a better one, and the Rabbitohs took the lead.

The Bunnies scored again in the 58th minute, this time through Alex Johnston. Reynolds' kick hit the post, but in the end it didn't matter. Despite 5 attacking sets in a row at the end of the game, the Dragons were unable to convert possession into points, and the Rabbitohs clung on to win the game.

In his first game back from injury, Adam Reynolds picked up the LeagueUnlimited Player of the Match award. His Rabbitohs will now travel to Melbourne to take on the Storm, while the Dragons will face the Raiders next Sunday afternoon.

Match Details

South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 St. George Illawarra Dragons 10
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 14126
Halftime Score: South Sydney Rabbitohs 6 St. George Illawarra Dragons 10

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (16)
Tries: Aaron Gray (2), Alex Johnston
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (1/3)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (10)
Tries: Gareth Widdop, Jason Nightingale
Field Goals:
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (0/2)
Penalty Goals: Gareth Widdop (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Adam Reynolds
2 points - Jason Nightingale
1 point - Chris Grevsmuhl

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Big team news ahead of tonight's clash between the Rabbitohs and the Dragons.

Adam Reynolds is back for the Rabbitohs, and will start in jersey #20. His inclusion causes a bit of a shuffle in the Bunnies' camp, with John Sutton moving into the second row, and Chris Grevsmuhl moving onto the interchange bench. Joel Reddy is out, replaced by Aaron Gray on the wing. In other positional changes, Issac Luke and Tom Burgess will play off the interchange bench, with Cameron McInnes and Ben Lowe starting the game.

Josh Dugan returns for the Dragons, replacing Eto Nabuli on the wing, but we expect Peter Mata'utia to play on the wing with Dugan returning to fullback. Jake Marketo drops off the extended interchange bench, with Will Matthews playing from the bench if jersey #24.

The Dragons make their way out onto the field, followed by the Rabbitohs. There doesn't look to be a massive crowd here at ANZ Stadium, but it's difficult to tell with a stadium this size...

Worst possible start for the Rabbitohs, as they kick out on the full from the very first kick off of the game. The Dragons are heavily on attack - they'll start their set from 20 metres out from the Rabbitohs' line.

1: Side to side stuff from the Dragons at the moment, but so far the Rabbitohs defence has been up to the task.

1: And now the Dragons are penalised for carrying the Rabbitohs' winger out over the sideline. Looked to be a harsh penalty in my opinion.

2: The Bunnies working the left side of the field tonight so far.

3: As predicted, Josh Dugan is playing at fullback, with Mata'utia moving back to the left wing. On the last, the Rabbitohs kick high, and both Mata'utia and Dugan go up for the kick at the same time.

4: Marshall kicks on the last, but it goes straight into Alex Johnston's arms on the full.

5: John Sutton clutching at his head after a tackle from Mike Cooper. No malicious intent, but Sutton has copped a poke in the eye, and Cooper will get penalised for the high contact. The Rabbitohs will opt for the penalty goal.

6: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Penalty goal attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds makes no mistake with the penalty attempt, and the Rabbitohs take any early, albeit slim, lead.

8: The Rabbitohs get through a good set after points, make their kick, but then are immediately penalised for holding down in the tackle. Bit of a piggy back for the Dragons.

8: The Dragons are looking good in attack here, making plenty of metres. Widdop puts a grubber into the in goal area, and the Rabbitohs bat it out over the sideline in goal. The Dragons will get a repeat set.

9: Sutton still looking inconvenienced by his eye... very red and raw.

9: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Penalty goal attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Now it's the Dragons' turn to post some points after a penalty. Widdop lines up the conversion attempt, and evens things back up.

14: Josh Dugan makes a half break, but is dragged down by the back of his pants.

15: The Rabbitohs chip towards the corner on the last, hoping for it to pull up just inside the corner post, but it's slightly too big. John Sutton really struggling now.

18: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Gareth Widdop. Kick to come.
A nice offload from Merrin, and they shift the ball left. It finds its way to Mata'utia, who slices straight through some lazy defence from Dylan Walker and Reynolds. He finds Widdop back on the inside, and the Dragons post the first try of the game

20: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
Widdop misses the conversion from left of the posts.

22: Benji Marshall attempts a long kick, but kicks it straight into the back of a Rabbitohs' player. It works for his side, as the Dragons regather the ball and make 40 metres to almost score, but Widdop knocks on.

23: The Dragons are penalised for messing around in the play the ball, and the Rabbitohs will get an attacking opportunity.

23: On the last, Reynolds looks for the pads, but misses and sends it straight over the dead ball line.

24: The Dragons work their way down field, and Jack de Belin gets a great offload away. The Dragons really are looking slick in attack.

24: On the last, Rein grubbers in towards the posts, but there are no chasers and the kick dribbles dead.

27: Error from Tom Burgess now, as he knocks the ball on early in the tackle count, while in the Dragons' danger zone.

27: The Dragons kick into the ingoal, and Greg Inglis leaves it until the last possible second to put it out over the dead ball line. The Rabbitohs get forced into yet another line dropout.

28: Missed opportunity for the Dragons now. Rein threw a dummy on the inside, but then threw a forward pass on the outside.

30: Luke Keary kicks high on the last, a midfield bomb. Nightingale makes a great catch, but is hit heavily after playing at the ball. It was just an awkward position for Nightingale to be in. No penalty.

32: Now the Rabbitohs force a line dropout. It's a perfectly weighted kick, and the chase is a good one.

32: The Rabbitohs have their best attacking opportunity of the night now.

33: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Aaron Gray. Kick to come.
And it pays off! Aaron Gray is the man to score, after Dylan Farrell and Nightingale both rush in on the inside men. Quick hands from Greg Inglis, and the Rabbitohs hit back.

34: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Adam Reynolds strikes it, but hooks it across the face of the goals. It's 6 all.

36: Inglis fending away defenders now, but he's eventually dragged down by four defenders.

37: The Dragons make a line break now through Euan Aitken, but he's ankle tapped... or falls over. I'm not sure which.

38: The Dragons throw it across to the opposite side of the field, and Benji Marshall creates some space, but the ball goes to ground. The Rabbitohs are ruled to have knocked it on, and the Dragons will get the football.

38: The Dragons get within 5 from the scrum feed, but are just stopped.

38: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Jason Nightingale. Kick to come.
Benji Marshall! A lovely block play, with Benji Marshall very deep out the back, and a cutout pass sees Nightingale go over in the corner.

39: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
Widdop lines up the conversion attempt from the right sideline. He paces himself out, and pushes it just wide of the posts.

40: The Dragons will go to half time leading by 4 points, and the margin is probably indicative of the way the first half has gone. The Dragons have been good in attack, while the Rabbitohs have been better in defence and made less errors. Join us soon for all the action from the second half.

40: We're back underway in the second half, with the Rabbitohs getting first use of the football.

41: The Dragons work it up towards halfway on their first set. They send the ball out to the right of the field, but the Rabbitohs watch the ball out over the sideline.

43: Reynolds kicks high on the last towards Mata'utia, but he's more than up to the task.

44: The Rabbitohs on attack now, with Chris Grevsmuhl crashing into the defence. Two front rowers have a crack at the tryline, before Keary kicks into the in goal area. Dugan bats it dead.

45: From the dropout, Tim Grant brings it back by running hard into the defence.

46: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Aaron Gray. Kick to come.
And Aaron Gray has a double! After a quick play the ball from Chris Grevsmuhl, Gray catches a retreating defensive line, and scores in the corner.

48: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds has a much better attempt with the conversion this time, and the Rabbitohs take the lead.

50: The Dragons get a penalty and kick their way downfield.

51: On the last, Marshall kicks into the in-goal, but Luke Keary looks to have caught the ball after it bounces off the upright.

52: It's ruled a catch, and the Rabbitohs get a 20 metre restart. Not two plays later, the Dragons are penalised for being around the attacker's head.

53: On the last, Reynolds kicks high but the Euan Aitken cleans it up, but on tackle zero Peter Mata'utia loses the ball.

53: George Burgess charges for the line, but is pulled down just short.

55: A runaround play for the Rabbitohs, and it's very slick, but Nightingale jams in and ruins the party.

56: The Dragons are now into their fourth defensive set on their own line. How much more can they take?

57: The Dragons are now penalised for a strip on George Burgess. From the resulting tap, the Rabbitohs look to have scored, but we're checking with the video referee.

58: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
And it's a try! Some great quick passing from the Rabbitohs sees Alex Johnston cross in the corner.

58: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds hits the post and misses the goal.

60: A good set after the try - the Rabbitohs run it back to halfway, before kicking to the tryline. Good work is undone though, as Ben Lowe is penalised for a crusher tackle in the next set.

61: The Dragons kick for the right corner, but the kick just beats the two chasers. The Rabbitohs get a scrum feed from their own ten metre line.

62: Ben Lowe driven back in some heavy defence from the Dragons.

63: The Dragons struggling to make metres in attack - 5 tackles in and they're still locked deep in their own half.

65: Short pass from Mitch Rein to Josh Dugan, but it didn't fool the Rabbitohs, and they belted Dugan for his trouble.

66: The Dragons have spent most of this half firmly camped on their own tryline. Good defence from the Rabbitohs.

66: Widdop tries to get a repeat set, but the bounce is all wrong and the Rabbitohs have no trouble with it.

68: Reynolds kicks looking for the sideline, and finds it half a metre in from the tryline. Great kick.

71: Big break from Josh Dugan, but he has no support. The Dragons are 5 metres out from the tryline, and the Dragons get a penalty.

73: On the last, Dugan kicks into the in goal. He's taken out late, but the refs don't agree. Inglis again waits until the last second and kicks it over the dead ball line.

74: The Dragons will get their their third attacking set in a row. Can they take things into extra time?

75: Mitch Rein throws a short ball to Tyson Frizell, but the defensive attention from Luke Keary forces the ball free. Major let off for the Rabbitohs.

77: The Dragons searching for a try again - they put a rushed kick in on the last, and the Rabbitohs clean it up easily.

78: The Rabbitohs make an error 25 metres out from their own tryline, and the Dragons will get another shot at the try.

78: Widdop heads right and finds Marshall, but he's dragged to ground. The Dragons lose the ball, and a bit of a scuffle breaks out.

79: Under a minute remaining, and there doesn't look to be enough time left for the Dragons. The Rabbitohs kick on the last, and it's huge. The Dragons have 30 seconds to run 80 metres if they are to force extra time.

80: But it's not to be. The Rabbitohs have beaten the Dragons 16-10.