Tight Games the Order of the Day for Pathways This Weekend
The Rabbitohs male pathways team all played very tight matches resulting in one draw and three losses this weekend against the Panthers and Warriors, whilst the female pathways teams turned in stronger efforts against Raiders outfits on Sunday.
The Rabbitohs’ NSW Cup open men’s team fell to the Penrith Panthers 26 points to 22 at Redfern Oval on Saturday. South Sydney trailed 16-6 at the half time break following an eighth minute try to fullback Fletcher Myers, and second half tries to centre Carson Kaho, winger Dane Towns and five-eighth Ashton Ward made the game a contest.
Ward, hooker Daniel O’Donnell, lock Ryan Gray, centre Talanoa Penitani, and second rowers Henry O’Kane and Thomas Fletcher were the Rabbitohs best against a Panthers side that sits inside the top-four on the NSW Cup ladder.
Penrith Panthers 26 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 (Fletcher Myers, Carson Kaho, Dane Towns, Ashton Ward tries; Ashton Ward 3 goals)
Earlier in the day, the South Sydney Rabbitohs Jersey Flegg Cup under 21s men’s team lost to the top-of-the-table Penrith Panthers 30 points to 26 at Redfern Oval.
The Rabbitohs trailed 18-10 at half time after first half tries to dummy halves Riley Frame and Sam Taylor.
The Rabbitohs fought back in the second stanza through tries to winger Daniel Waqa, a second try to Frame and a final-minute try to halfback and captain Nicholas Quinn.
Quinn, Taylor, five-eighth Bailey Smith, second rower Josh Alhazim, interchange player Devante Mihinui and the returning Haizyn Mellars on the wing were the Rabbitohs best in a beaten side.
Penrith Panthers 30 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 26 (Riley Frame 2, Sam Taylor, Daniel Waqa, Nicholas Quinn tries; Nicholas Quinn 3 goals)
The Rabbitohs SG Ball Cup under 19s men’s team fought out a 16-all draw against the Warriors on Sunday at Redfern Oval, a vital competition point in their battle for a top-four spot on the competition ladder.
The Rabbitohs started very slowly and trailed 10-nil at half time before mounting a mighty comeback in the second half through tries to middle forward Elijah Keung, centre Dayne Jennings and fullback Charlie Poynton.
Jennings, Keung, centre Lance Tovio, five-eighth Taj Alvarez and prop Johannes Logan were the Rabbitohs best.
The Rabbitohs are currently in second position on the competition ladder with one game remaining in the regular season, that being against the ninth-placed Bulldogs.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 (Elijah Keung, Dayne Jennings, Charlie Poynton tries; Matthew Humphries 2 goals) drew with Warriors 16
The Rabbitohs Harold Matthews Cup under 17s boys’ team lost 20 points to 18 to the ladder-leading Warriors in New Zealand, putting them in a tight battle for a spot in the finals with one game remaining in the regular season.
South Sydney led 12-10 at the half time break courtesy of tries to halfback Charlie Bateup and interchange hooker James Davies. Captain and lock Keone Anitelea Tsioussis scored in the second half, but a Warriors try in the final minute of the match snatched the win from the travelling Rabbitohs.
The Rabbitohs are now in seventh position on the competition ladder with one game remaining against the 14th-placed Bulldogs next weekend, where a win will see the boys in red and green qualify for the finals in 2025.
Warriors 20 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 18 (Charlie Bateup, James Davies, Keone Anitelea Tsioussis tries; Payton Tarau 3 goals)
The South Sydney Rabbitohs Tarsha Gale Cup under 19s women’s team lost to the Canberra Raiders, 38 points to 12, at Redfern Oval on Sunday.
The Rabbitohs trailed just 12-6 at half time but could not hold off the faster-finishing Raiders in the second half.
Prop Mequynne Logan and interchange forward Sonaiva Kini-Samuelu scored tries for the red and green. Five-eighth Teearna Williams was the Rabbitohs best player on the field this weekend.
The ladies play their final game of the season next weekend against the North Sydney Bears.
Canberra Raiders 38 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 (Mequynne Logan, Sonaiva Kini-Samuelu tries; Kiara McGregor 2 goals)
The South Sydney Rabbitohs Lisa Fiaola Cup under 17s girls’ team lost 30-nil to the Canberra Raiders at Redfern Oval on Sunday.
The Raiders led 16-nil at half time and went on with the win in the second half.
As usual, the Rabbitohs’ girls never gave up and tried their best on difficult afternoon. Centre Markaylah Talanoa was rated the Rabbitohs’ best player. They also play their final game of the season next weekend against the North Sydney Bears.
Canberra Raiders 30 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 0
