Match Details
Match Date	6th Apr, 2012
Opponent	South Sydney
Result	Loss 10-20
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Michael Ennis
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	35,221
Referee	Ben Cummins Gavin Badger

A disappointing second half effort from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs has ended in a 20-10 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Good Friday clash between the two sides at ANZ Stadium.

With a bumper public holiday crowd of 35,221 watching on, the Bulldogs appeared to be on top of proceedings early before allowing the Rabbitohs back into the contest, eventually seeing their opponent lead 12-10 into half time.

Rookie Rabbitohs winger Andrew Everingham was the star of the show for the home side, setting up the Rabbitohs first try for Matt King before scoring the remaining two himself on either side of the break.

But after dominating all but two minutes of the opening half the Bulldogs failed to fire a shot in a second forty that was light on highlights, the Rabbitohs closing out victory with a 79th minute Adam Reynolds penalty goal, sealing the 10 point win.

Reynolds was the other stand out for the Rabbitohs, finishing with figures of four from four with the boot including two booming conversions from the sideline the second of which came just seconds after he was felled by a seemingly innocuous high shot from Michael Ennis which resulted in the youngster lying prone on the turf and Ennis on report.

The final 42 minutes of the game were in stark contrast to how the Bulldogs started the match, who scored two tries off neat work with the ball as opposed to the aerial assault that led to all three Rabbitohs four pointers.

But penalties the count finished at 7-2 against the Bulldogs wore the blue and white resistance down in a game that finished largely equal in every other statistical area.

After an even and absorbing opening to the match the Bulldogs opened the scores, a swift backline movement through the hands catching Souths short as Steve Turner dived over for the first try in the 11th minute of play.

Then individual brilliance gave Souths the lead on 20 minutes with Everingham showing composure beyond his years to lay on the King try.

Reynolds hoisted a kick to the corner and Everingham won the jump, knocking the ball backwards before somehow keeping it in play to send King on his way. Reynolds then converted to give Souths a 6-4 lead.

But as soon as the lead was established it evaporated as the Bulldogs hit straight back with Sam Kasiano handing off to David Stagg for a try under the sticks, which when converted by Turner made it 10-6 the Dogs way.

The Bulldogs had all the ball and most of the field position but would still find themselves trailing into half time, after Everingham scored his side second on the cusp of the break.

The try once again came through the air after the Bulldogs were caught out of position, with video referee Steve Clark awarding it to the young winger his fifth for the season despite more than a hint of a King knock on in the lead up.

Reynolds then stepped up and nailed the kick from the sideline to give Souths an unlikely 12-10 lead at the break.

The lead resulted in a renewed Souths outfit the start the second half, the opening stanza of which was notable mainly for Michael Ennis being put on report for a high shot on Reynolds.
Soon after Souths stretched their lead to eight points after Everingham again won the jump for the high ball, which was followed by a clear headed Reynolds nailing yet another conversion from the sideline, handing Souths at 18-10 lead.

From there another report this time to Roy Asotasi for a high shot on Aiden Tolman was the only point of interest until Reynolds punished the final Bulldogs penalty from close range to close out the match two minutes from full time.

The Bulldogs have eight days to regroup before taking on the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park next Saturday evening.

Source: AAP

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