The St George Illawarra Dragons have won their third consecutive game in convincing fashion, defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-12 at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush today.

Following a week of club turmoil, Souths started the game on a high note and scored the opening try after just four minutes of play. The Rabbitohs continued to dominate possession throughout the first half, but the visiting Dragons side scored the next two tries to lead 12-6 at half time.

The first half ended in some controversy following a time keeper error, the half time siren going off almost a minute too early after Souths were awarded a penalty close to the Dragons line.

Saints went further ahead in the 48th minute when backrower Ben Creagh crashed over for the first of his two tries. Creagh was in again two minutes later following a tremendous bust from 40m out.

Winger Jason Nightingale crossed in the corner five minutes later and with 25 minute to go, Saints were up by 26-6.

The Rabbitohs finish with a consolation try right on fulltime with rookie back Luke Capewell scoring on debut.

Match Details
St George Illawarra Dragons 26 def South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
Round 12 - Sunday June 1st, 2008 2:00pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium Homebush
Referee: Gavin Badger
Half time: Dragons 12-6
Crowd: 12,978

South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
Tries: Shannon Hegarty, Luke Capewell
Goals: Issac Luke (2/2)
St George Illawarra Dragons 26
Tries: Chase Stanley, Rangi Chase, Ben Creagh (2), Jason Nightingale
Goals: Jamie Soward (3/5)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match
3 Points: Ben Hornby (Dragons)
2 Points: Ben Creagh (Dragons)
1 Point: Luke Capewell (Rabbitohs)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Welcome to this clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Their are changes for both teams Mark Gasnier & Kirk Reynoldson are out for the Dragons which means Chase Stanley will move to Centre, Lagi Setu & Ricky Thorby will come onto the bench and Ben Hornby will captain the team.

For the Rabbitohs John Tamanika is out which means Nathan Merritt will move to wing and Luke Capewell will make his first grade for the Rabbitohs at Fullback.

Here are the teams.

RABBITOHS: 21. Luke Capewell 2. Nathan Merritt 3. Nigel Vagana 4. Fetuli Talanoa 5. Shannon Hegarty 6. Dean Widders 7. George Ndaira 8. Luke Stuart 9. Issac Luke 10. Roy Asotasi 11. David Kidwell 12. David Fa'alogo 13. John Sutton
Interchange: 14. Beau Falloon 15. Shannan McPherson 16. Manase Manuokafoa 17. Michael Greenfield

DRAGONS: 1. Brett Morris 2. Jason Nightingale 4. Matt Cooper 16. Chase Stanley 5. Josh Morris 6. Jamie Soward 7. Ben Hornby 8. Justin Poore 9. Dean Young 10. Jason Ryles 11. Beau Scott 12. Ben Creagh 13. Stuart Webb
Interchange: 15. Dan Hunt 17. Rangi Chase 18. Lagi Setu 19. Ricky Thorby

1 min: We are underway Rabbitohs kick off.

1 min: Penalty for the Rabbitohs. Jason Ryles getting his hand in the ruck.

3 min: Great start by the Rabbits they get a repeat set.

4 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Great offload from Talanoa puts Hegarty over in the corner.
Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6-0

8 min: Penalty for the Rabbitohs, Ben Creagh holding down to long.

15 min: Soward leads a great chase with Scott and puts the debutant Capewell back into his goal forcing a line dropout

16 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Cooper gives a great ball to Chase Stanely and Stanley crosses in the corner.
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
6 all

18 min: Penalty for the Dragons, Justin Poore put into a dangerous postition.

19 min: Jason Ryles loses the ball! St George get penalised for back chatting the ref.

22 min: Penalties are plenty, Nigel Vagana gets penalised for holding down to long.

22 min: Poore puts down the ball, Poor ball security from the Dragons.

23 min: Rabbitohs make a bit of a break but some messy play puts a stop to it.

23 min: St George get the scrum feed after that messy play by Souths.

24 min: Soward kicks the ball into touch. Souths win the scrum.

27 min: Penalty to the Rabbitohs - Justin Poore coming in with a flop, Nathan Brown will be fuming at halftime.

31 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Rangi Chase from dummy half throws a dummy and goes over for a easy try
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 12-6

38 min: Penalty Souths, Can they score before halftime?

40 min: Well it seems the time keeper has gone to sleep meaning with a minute left in the first half the siren has gone off.

HALFTIME
Rabbitohs had a lot of the possesion in the first 20 minutes however the Dragons kept plugging away and whilst they have had a lot of dropball they take a 6 points lead into halftime.

It should be a great second half, Stay tuned.

40 min: Second Half is underway with the Dragons kicking off, Lets see if the Bunnies can fight back!

40 min: Bunnies with a great start to second half really pushing up field!

43 min: Great kick in behind the line from Soward gets the Dragons a repeat set.

45 min: Kick from Soward played at they get another set, Can the Rabbitohs hold them hold?

48 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Ben Creagh goes over for the Dragons, After 4 repeat sets the Rabbitohs could not hold them out any longer. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 18-6

50 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Hornby gets a great offload to a rampaging Ben Creagh and he runs 40 or so metres to score and runs over debutant Luke Capewell in the process. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 22-6

50 min: Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor looks to the bench with Asotasi and Kidwell coming onto the field now.

52 min: Rabbitohs come up with a error through Shannon Hegarty losing the ball. Dragons will get a full set 10 out from the Rabbitohs line.

53 min: A bit of luck for the Bunnies with the Dragons coming up with the error. Souths win the scrum 10 out from their own line.

54 min: Souths keep losing the ball they give another opputunity to Dragons who win the scrum 20 out from the Rabbitohs line.

55 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Jason Nightingale crosses in the corner for his 10th try of the season. Things looking grim for Souths. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 26-6

63 min: Dragons come up with a error. Souths win the scrum 10 out from there own line.

64 min: Rabbitohs get yet another penalty can they get across the line?

65 min: Capewell comes up with a drop ball, Dragons get the ball back 10 out from their line.

67 min: Dragons come up with a drop ball, Souths get the ball back.

68 min: Souths get a full set 10 out from the Dragons line.

69 min: Souths come up with a knock on, Asotasi wasn't ready for the ball from Issac Luke. Dragons win the scrum 10 out from their line.

70 min: Soward gets a great kick away, Souths race in to set the scrum and get the win 10 out from their line.

71 min: Sutton kicks the ball into touch and the Rabbitohs get time called off, Dragons win the scrum 20 out from their own line. Its a Scrumathon!

76 min: A great footrace between Merritt and Soward! Soward showed some great toe and beat him in the race however could not get to the ball to score.

80 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Rabbitohs finish on a high with Luke Capewell scoring on debut. Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 26-12

FULLTIME
The Dragons continue their 3 game winning streak defeating the Rabbitohs 26 points to 12.