Comeback Kings: Bunnies make it five straight

AAP & rugbyleaguelive.com | 12/07/08 | 0

AUDIO - Miracle man Jason Taylor talks to the Continuous Call Team

AUDIO - Post-match with a shattered Michael Hagan

AUDIO - Post-match in the Rabbitohs camp

South Sydney produced yet another exhilarating come back to maintain their fairytale NRL run with a 32-20 win over Parramatta at ANZ Stadium tonight.

While they didn't have to retrieve the 18 and 24 points of the past two weeks they still managed to turnaround a 10-0 deficit to record their fifth win in a row.

Young halfback Chris Sandow, who has yet to taste defeat in a top grade game, was instrumental in four of the Rabbitohs' six tries as Souths extended their longest winning streak in 14 years.

He produced the final pass for two tries, was involved in the build up of another and also set up a fourth with a perfectly weighted kick.

The Eels crashed to their third loss in four games after making a terrific start.

Hooker Mark Riddell and winger Jarryd Hayne each crossed inside the first 15 minutes, as the Eels dominated possession and capitalised on a strong kicking game.

Souths started their revival in the 16th minute when centre Beau Champion crossed the line despite a slight doubt about the grounding.

Video referee Paul Simpkins then gave the benefit of the doubt in favour of Souths' other centre Jamie Simpson, who scored from a Sandow kick in the 30th minute.

The livewire halfback put Simpson over again five minutes before half time with a precise cut out pass.

Behind at halftime in six of their seven previous games, Souths proved they could win from in front after the break, despite Parramatta drawing level early in the second half.

Powerful Parramatta centre Krisnan Inu charged onto a pass from five-eighth Feleti Mateo and fullback Luke Burt converted to have the match at 16-all.

The Eels suffered a set back shortly after, when influential playmaker Mateo left the field for 10 minutes with a strained medial ligament.

Souths took control of the game, with Shannan McPherson restoring the Rabbitohs' lead when he charged over from a Beau Falloon pass.

With Parramatta running out of interchanges, the resurgent Rabbitohs quickly built a match winning margin.

Veteran winger Shannon Hegarty crossed in the left hand corner and Sandow set up a try to hooker Issac Luke to put Souths beyond reach.

Inu scored his second try shortly before the end, but it was little consolation for the well beaten Eels.

SOUTH SYDNEY 32 (J Simpson 2 B Champion S Hegarty I Luke S McPherson tries I Luke 3 C Sandow goals)
bt
PARRAMATTA 20 (K Inu 2 J Hayne M Riddell tries L Burt 2 goals)

Crowd: 17,897.

We were just methodical... our defence was much better tonight... A pleased South Sydney coach Jason Taylor