The Dragons Knock-On Effect NSW Cup outfit took down the Rabbitohs 26-6 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in the opening leg of Saturday’s triple-header.
Jesse Marschke’s kicking game helped the Red V remain on top for much of the contest as Savelio Tamale punched holes in the Rabbitohs defensive line throughout the second stanza.
The Dragons poured on 26 unanswered points to claim their fourth win of the season.
Match: Dragons v Rabbitohs
Round 10 -
home Team
Dragons
7th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
8th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
The hosts survived a surprise short kick-off to earn strong field position early with Mathew Feagai skying to reel in a Jonah Glover kick only to be held short of the line in search of the encounter’s first points.
It was instead Rabbitohs hooker Ryan Gray who burrowed his way over out of dummy-half for the clash’s opening score off the back of a downtown penalty.
A Marschke bomb forced a Rabbitohs error 15 minutes in with Alec Tuitavake held up over the line off the back of it.
Jonah Glover was too denied several plays later with the referee ruling that the halfback had gained an advantage via an obstruction prior to diving over.
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights: Round 10
Marschke swept and slipped his way through the visitors’ left edge soon after for the Dragons’ first points.
His conversion was waved away however as the score remained 6-4 the way of the Rabbitohs.
Max Feagai went aerial to secure another Rabbitohs short kick-off with the Red V charging straight back onto the attack as a result and finding a second through Sione Finau who strolled over in the right corner off a looping Marschke cut-out.
Marschke adjusted and nailed the conversion from a near-identical spot to extend the hosts’ lead to four.
The Dragons forced an error in the opening set of the second half to earn strong field position with Haele Finau nudging his way over out of dummy-half off the back of it to extend the lead beyond a converted try.
The hosts improved their lead 51 minutes in after Tamale shot into space down the left flank from inside his own half and found a supporting Ben Johnson for his second four-pointer of the season.
Rabbitohs fullback CJ Mundine was placed on report following the try as a result of a late shot that left Tamale on the ground in pain.
Michael Molo was also placed on report minutes later for a crusher penalty, but the Rabbitohs were unable to pierce the Dragons wall off the back of it.
Tamale found a try a try of his own the following set taking in a Mathew Feagai cut-out from 35 metres out and leaving the Rabbitohs cover in the dust courtesy of some sharp footwork to slide his way over.
The 19-year-old had his eyes on a second entering the final 10 only for Feagai’s final pass to go astray.
The wet weather prevented any late tries as Ben Woolf’s men held on for a key 26-6 win on home turf.
