Bunnies stun the Broncos

Super Saturday Review

South Sydney have stunned the Brisbane Broncos to record their first victory of season 2006, defeating the ladder leaders 34-14 at a rain swamped Telstra Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night.

After 280 days in the victory wilderness, a change of owner and several recent heartbreaking narrow losses, the Rabbitohs savoured tonight with six tries to three.

Brisbane, to their credit, went into the match below full strength with up to eight regulars away on State of Origin duty for Queensland.

For Souths, new recruit David Peachey –formerly of Cronulla- was involved in the seventh minute opening try, Nathan Merritt over in the corner from the Peachey grubber.

Luke MacDougall’s first try, followed by the conversion from Ben Walker, put the hosts up 10-0 before the Broncos rallied and hit back to level proceedings at 10-10 with tries to Fraser Anderson and Brett Seymour.

A double movement denied Souths lock Shane Rigon a four-pointer, however the Rabbitohs took a 16-10 lead into half time with their third try of the night through Jaiman Lowe.

Brisbane was first to score after the break when Leon Bott gathered the grubber from teammate Shane Perry and crossed in the corner.

A costly error, and subsequent turnover, by Casey McGuire allowed Souths to hop away to a 22-14 lead. Merritt on the receiving end of his second try after some scintillating ball movement amongst his fellow backs.

South Sydney wrapped up the match with a further two tries, Luke MacDougall grabbed his own double, with his second in the 61st minute, while Todd Polglase went over in the final minute.

Next Week, the Broncos host St George-Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, just two days after Origin II at the same venue, while South Sydney tackle the Eels at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night.

In other NRL matches on Super Saturday, St George-Illawarra accounted for Penrith 20-10 at CUA Stadium. The Dragons, thought to be weary from the hard fought match in similar rain-and-slippery conditions against Parramatta last weekend, ran in three tries to two.

The Dragons led 14-6 at the break after tries to Dean Young and Matt Bickerstaff, while Chris Shepherd was denied after a double movement in the 30th minute. Luke Swain scored Penrith’s lone try in the first forty.

Daryl Millard won the race to the ball in the Panthers in-goal zone and enabled the Dragons to stretch their lead out to a comfortable 20-6.

Handling errors from both sides proved costly, however the Dragons managed to hold onto the ball more than their counterparts and claimed victory despite Luke Rooney going over for a late four-pointer.

While up in Townsville, the Cronulla Sharks fresh from the bye upstaged their more fancied hosts the North Queensland Cowboys, winning 26-4 on the back of four tries to one.

Leading by 8-4 at half time, the Sharks sealed their seventh win of the season with three second half tries to Darren Albert, Paul Gallen and Hutch Maiava.

Sunday’s action has the Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors locking horns at Aussie Stadium, while Parramatta and Melbourne square off at Parramatta Stadium.

Round 14 is completed on Monday when the Bulldogs host the Canberra Raiders at Telstra Stadium in the Queen’s Birthday holiday match.

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