Dragons slide continues as Rabbitohs prevail

The St George Illawarra Dragons losing streak extended to six tonight, after they were defeated 24-8 by the South Sydney Rabbitohs at a slippery Sydney Cricket Ground this evening.

The game started slowly, with players continually slipping on the wet surface. Both teams adapted quickly though, and the Dragons looked good in the opening minutes, with a fast line speed and solid numbers in tackles.

In the 8th minute, completely against the run of play, Dylan Walker scored a try by breaking through some lazy defence on the left of the field and sprinting away to score. Adam Reynolds nailed his first conversion attempt of the night.

The Rabbitohs next points came in the 34th minute, as they took advantage of a penalty from Benji Marshall. Reynolds opted for the penalty goal, and made no mistake from only 10 metres out, the Rabbitohs leading 8-0.

That looked to be the half time score, until the Dragons hit back in the 39th minute. It was a piece of Marshall brilliance, as he ran to the line and threw a no look floater out to the left for Justin Hunt to score on the wing. Widdop missed the conversion, and the Rabbitohs went to the break leading 8-4.

The second half was a different story. A try to Alex Johnson in the 58th minute set the tone for the half. His unconverted try took the score to 12-4.

Josh Dugan scored a try of his own in the 69th minute to take the deficit back to four points, but tries to Luke Keary and Reynolds in the last 10 minutes took the game beyond reach for the Dragons.

The Dragons will travel to Napier in New Zealand to take on the Melbourne Storm next Saturday night, while the Rabbitohs will take on the Knights at ANZ Stadium on the same night.

Match Details

St. George Illawarra Dragons 8 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Crowd: 18217
Halftime Score: St. George Illawarra Dragons 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs 8

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (8)
Tries: Justin Hunt, Josh Dugan
Field Goals:
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (0/2)
Penalty Goals:

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (24)
Tries: Dylan Walker, Adam Reynolds, Alex Johnston, Luke Keary
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Greg Inglis
2 points - Adam Reynolds
1 point - Thomas Burgess

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

It's a cold and rainy Sydney Cricket Ground that we welcome you to tonight, ahead of this clash between the Dragons and the Rabbitohs.

The Dragons, with a host of returning stars, will be looking to break a 5 match losing streak. The Rabbitohs also come into this game on the back of a loss, theirs against the Panthers in round 17.

The Dragons are 1-17 as named, with George Rose dropping off the extended interchange bench. The Rabbitohs have made no changes to their team named on Tuesday afternoon.

Both teams have taken the field, and we're just about to hear the national anthem performed by Paulini.

Just a minute or so from kick off now. The Rabbitohs will kick off, and the Dragons will have first use of the football.

And we're underway at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Jason Nightingale takes the first hit up.

1: On the last, the Dragons kick in behind the line, and Alex Johnston returns the ball before being collared by a good kick chase.

2: Very slippery conditions are evident already, with a number of players already covered in mud, and some sliding feet as well.

3: Some good defence from the Dragons so far - numbers in tackles and fast line speed. As I type, they force an error and will start a set from the Rabbitohs 30m line.

4: Ben Creagh finds a bit of space, but can't find a recipient for his offload, so he takes the tackle.

4: Possible try to the Dragons! They spread the ball out to the left side of the field, and Justin Hunt dives over the line, but on second glance it looks like he has lost the ball. We're just checking the grounding with the video referee...

4: NO TRY! Hunt is ruled to have lost the ball in the field of play, and then the ball has gone dead, so the Rabbitohs will get a 20m restart.

5: At the opposite end of the field the Rabbitohs kick high, but knock the ball on.

6: The Dragons kick from just inside their own half, but it's a good kick and Greg Inglis has to bring it out from close to his own line.

8: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Walker. Kick to come.
Well, that was unexpected. Completely against the run of play, Dylan Walker picks on a half gap after running from dummy half, breaks through the line and sprints to the line to score in the corner. The Rabbitohs take an early lead.

9: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Adam Reynolds attempts the conversion from the left edge, and sends it straight between the posts.

11: The Rabbitohs again attempt to work the left edge, but Sutton's kick goes straight out over the sideline.

13: The Rabbitohs are penalised now, they've laid on the tackled player for slightly too long, and the Dragons get helped downfield.

14: Widdop sweeps in behind his line, and hits Nightingale with a nice short pass, but the Rabbitohs manage to hold him up and take him over the sideline. Great defence from the Bunnies.

15: This time it's Sutton's turn to make a break. He has Greg Inglis in support, but Inglis drops the ball cold. Uncharacteristic stuff from the fullback.

17: The Dragons kick into the ingoal, and Greg Inglis is trapped. Line drop out to the Dragons.

18: The Dragons with their best scoring opportunity so far. Josh Dugan gets pulled down 1 metre short.

18: They look for another repeat set, but dribble the ball over the dead ball line. The Rabbitohs get the ball from a 20 metre restart.

20: The Rabbitohs opt to run the ball on the last, but are tackled with the ball.

22: The Dragons attempt a 40/20 through Benji Marshall. Aaron Gray is forced to play at it, and saves the day for the Rabbitohs.

25: Time is off while Cameron McInnes gets some attention for an ankle complaint.

25: Another penalty against the Dragons, this time for a hand in the play-the-ball.

27: Marshall kicks from 50 metres out. Widdop sprints through and cleans up Alex Johnston in goal, forcing the Rabbitohs into a line drop out.

29: Jack de Belin ruins Widdop's good work, dropping the ball on the first tackle.

31: South Sydney get a penalty now. They take a long time to decide what they want to do, but eventually they've opted for a penalty goal. Interesting choice from out to the left, and 35 metres out, in slippery conditions.

32: UNSUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Penalty goal attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
The ball slides across the face of the goal, but the Dragons don't attempt to catch it, so they're forced into a 20 metre drop out.

32: The Rabbitohs get another set attacking the Dragons' line. They spread the ball out to the right, but Justin Hunt rushes in and shuts it down.

34: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Penalty goal attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Benji Marshall gives away a penalty now, laying on the tackled player for way, way too long. Reynold lines up a penalty goal from 10 metres out, and nails it.

39: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Justin Hunt. Kick to come.
Continued pressure leads to a try for the Dragons. A no look pass from Benji Marshall hits Justin Hunt on the wing, and he dives over for a try. Good timing, just before the break.

39: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
Widdop pushes the conversion attempt wide.

40: And that's half time. The Rabbitohs go to the break leading 8-4, but it was a close half of footy. End-to-end stuff, and some big line breaks despite the less than favourable conditions. Join us shortly for all the second half action.

40: We're back underway in the second half, and the Rabbitohs work the ball away from their end of the field.

41: The Rabbitohs make a break down field off the back of Greg Inglis. He did well to even get to the ball, which was way out to his left, let alone make a break after catching it.

42: The Bunnies making line breaks almost at will so far in this second half.

45: Benji Marshall kicks over the top of the defensive line on the last. Justin Hunt leaps high and catches the ball, but hes carried out over the sideline.

49: The Dragons run the ball on the last. Dugan takes the ball to the line and puts in a fumbling sort of a grubber. It's toed on by one of his teammates, and the Dragons almost manage to force a repeat set.

52: The penalty count starting to even itself up now - as the Dragons get their third penalty in a row.

54: Reynolds attempts a little chip over the top under pressure, but Widdop is up to the task and cleans it up. Widdop then draws a penalty for his team, and possibly picks up a "best actor" award for his performance as well.

56: Big run from Glenn Stewart, taking advantage of a quick play the ball and making 20 metres.

57: The Rabbitohs force the Dragons into a line drop out. The Dragons attempt a short kick off, but it backfires and the Rabbitohs find themselves in great field position.

58: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
And after a brilliant set play, Alex Johnston finds himself in open space, and he dives over the tryline. Marshall will be regretting that short drop out...

59: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds fails with the conversion attempt.

61: The Dragons looking to get themselves back in this game. Points are at an absolute premium in conditions like this.

65: The St George Illawarra side really struggling for field position at the moment. They're working themselves out of their own end of the field from every set lately, and being forced to kick from only just inside Bunnies' territory.

67: The first set in a while for the Dragons in the Rabbitohs' danger zone, and Benji Marshall attempts to create something on the fourth. He skips and jumps, before offloading to Dugan, but Dugan panics and kicks, and the Rabbitohs easily recover the ball.

69: On the Dragons' next set, the Dragons send the ball out to the right, and have possibly scored a try through Josh Dugan. He steps inside Aaron Gray, and manages to plant the ball despite the attention of John Sutton. We're just checking the grounding.

69: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.
And it's a try! The Dragons hit back.

70: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
Widdop attempts the conversion from the right sideline, but he can't swing it back. Four points the difference again.

72: The Dragons kick into the Rabbitohs in-goal, and Greg Inglis finds himself under pressure. Like he does, he breaks free of the attempted defenders, and then makes a 30 metre break down the left sideline. He then gets a penalty for his team, after the Dragons make a second attempt in the tackle.

74: And off the back of that, we have a possible try to the Rabbitohs. Reynolds kicks at the post, with Greg Inglis on his inside. The ball bounces of the post, and some brilliant reflexes sees Reynolds regather the kick and dive over the line. Just double checking... something. Not sure what, and I don't think the referees are either.

74: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Adam Reynolds. Kick to come.
And it's a TRY to the Rabbitohs. No surprise there. Great work from Reynolds.

74: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds makes no error with the conversion attempt from straight in front.

74: The Dragons try a short kick off, but the Rabbitohs clean it up.

75: Glenn Stewart rolls the ball into the in goal area, and the Dragons are forced into yet another line drop out.

76: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Luke Keary. Kick to come.
Reynolds and Keary combine now to take the game away from the Dragons. Keary chases a Reynolds kick, and scores right between the posts.

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
And from almost the space place as his last goal attempt, Reynolds adds the extras.

78: The Rabbitohs still surging forward at the moment, leading to a big line break from Greg Inglis. He kicks ahead, but the bounce is all wrong for McQueen, who knocks it on.

79: Less than a minute on the clock now.

80: And that's the game. Loss number 6 in a row for the Dragons, with the Rabbitohs proving too good for them tonight, running out winners 24-8.