Yayarg
19-02-2006, 09:21 AM
Souths 14 Dragons 12
SOUTH Sydney last night swept aside three months of divisive off-field politics to record a gutsy victory over the Dragons in a nail-biting Charity Shield clash.
As factions fight for control of the club, the players won a streetfight of their own to tender compelling proof they will not be destabilised by Peter Holmes a Court's takeover bid.
Playing their first game at their new home base, the Rabbitohs staged a stunning second-half fightback, overturning a 12-0 half-time deficit with three tries in 12 minutes to stun the Dragons.
The win in the NRL's most celebrated pre-season trial ensured the Rabbitohs retained the Charity Shield.
There was one concern, with Beau Champion placed on report for a thunderous hit on Dragons fullback Clint Greenshields in the 64th minute.
But mainly it was a big night for Souths. A crowd of 24,566 - the second largest in the 24-year history of the Charity Shield - showed up despite intermittent rain, quashing fears Rabbitohs fans would boycott their cavernous new home.
"While the players and coaching staff care about the club and you can't isolate yourself from the issues that are there, it is an upper-tier management issue and it will sort itself out over time," coach Shaun McRae said of the privatisation issue.
"Tonight proved to me that their minds aren't elsewhere and I didn't expect they would be. It never showed at training. The rest will take care of itself.
"The important thing tonight was to come out and do well. The bonus is winning the game."
Of the impressive attendance, which suggests the Rabbitohs will enjoy at least the type of crowds they attracted to Aussie Stadium, McRae said: "Terrific crowd. There was nearly 25,000, so everything worked fine.
"We've developed a good relationship with Telstra and that will continue to grow. I'm very happy with the facilities."
The game itself was not one for highlights. In greasy conditions, both sides dropped a plethora of ball as they blew out the off-season cobwebs.
After a series of near misses, the Rabbitohs were finally on the board in the 47th minute.
With the Dragons defence highly compressed 20 metres out from their line, Souths half Ben Walker produced a grubber kicked for the corner and watched as winger Paul Mellor calmly grounded the ball.
Walker's conversion from the touchline sailed wide, but the Bunnies had hope at 12-4.
They were right in the contest nine minutes later, centre Shannon Hegarty crashing over out wide after a slick backline movement involving exciting rookie Beau Champion.
Walker's conversion missed again to leave the Dragons clinging to a four-point lead, but the Rabbitohs had grabbed the momentum. Diehard Souths fans erupted on the hour with back-rower David Fa'alogo charging over after a neat cut-out ball from Walker. The halfback had no trouble with the simple conversion to give the Rabbitohs the lead for the first time.
With the crowd becoming more vocal as the night wore on, Souths showed tremendous spirit, first to fight back from 12-0 down and then resist the Dragons pressure.
Mellor had the chance to seal the game, but he dropped the ball with the line beckoning.
SOUTHS 14 (P Mellor, S Hegarty, D Fa'alogo tries; B Walker goal)
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 12 (T Barrett, B Hornby tries; W Naiqama 2 goals).
Crowd: 24,566.
SOUTH Sydney last night swept aside three months of divisive off-field politics to record a gutsy victory over the Dragons in a nail-biting Charity Shield clash.
As factions fight for control of the club, the players won a streetfight of their own to tender compelling proof they will not be destabilised by Peter Holmes a Court's takeover bid.
Playing their first game at their new home base, the Rabbitohs staged a stunning second-half fightback, overturning a 12-0 half-time deficit with three tries in 12 minutes to stun the Dragons.
The win in the NRL's most celebrated pre-season trial ensured the Rabbitohs retained the Charity Shield.
There was one concern, with Beau Champion placed on report for a thunderous hit on Dragons fullback Clint Greenshields in the 64th minute.
But mainly it was a big night for Souths. A crowd of 24,566 - the second largest in the 24-year history of the Charity Shield - showed up despite intermittent rain, quashing fears Rabbitohs fans would boycott their cavernous new home.
"While the players and coaching staff care about the club and you can't isolate yourself from the issues that are there, it is an upper-tier management issue and it will sort itself out over time," coach Shaun McRae said of the privatisation issue.
"Tonight proved to me that their minds aren't elsewhere and I didn't expect they would be. It never showed at training. The rest will take care of itself.
"The important thing tonight was to come out and do well. The bonus is winning the game."
Of the impressive attendance, which suggests the Rabbitohs will enjoy at least the type of crowds they attracted to Aussie Stadium, McRae said: "Terrific crowd. There was nearly 25,000, so everything worked fine.
"We've developed a good relationship with Telstra and that will continue to grow. I'm very happy with the facilities."
The game itself was not one for highlights. In greasy conditions, both sides dropped a plethora of ball as they blew out the off-season cobwebs.
After a series of near misses, the Rabbitohs were finally on the board in the 47th minute.
With the Dragons defence highly compressed 20 metres out from their line, Souths half Ben Walker produced a grubber kicked for the corner and watched as winger Paul Mellor calmly grounded the ball.
Walker's conversion from the touchline sailed wide, but the Bunnies had hope at 12-4.
They were right in the contest nine minutes later, centre Shannon Hegarty crashing over out wide after a slick backline movement involving exciting rookie Beau Champion.
Walker's conversion missed again to leave the Dragons clinging to a four-point lead, but the Rabbitohs had grabbed the momentum. Diehard Souths fans erupted on the hour with back-rower David Fa'alogo charging over after a neat cut-out ball from Walker. The halfback had no trouble with the simple conversion to give the Rabbitohs the lead for the first time.
With the crowd becoming more vocal as the night wore on, Souths showed tremendous spirit, first to fight back from 12-0 down and then resist the Dragons pressure.
Mellor had the chance to seal the game, but he dropped the ball with the line beckoning.
SOUTHS 14 (P Mellor, S Hegarty, D Fa'alogo tries; B Walker goal)
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 12 (T Barrett, B Hornby tries; W Naiqama 2 goals).
Crowd: 24,566.