19 Apr 2011

Dragons beat Rabbitohs in snore-fest in Sydney

5:38 am on 19 April 2011

It took them a while but St George Illawarra finally brushed off a gallant South Sydney at ANZ Stadium last night with the NRL defending champions prevailing 16-nil in a uninspiring contest.

Showing the grit and patience that was a hallmark of their premiership run last year, the Dragons had to wait until a Darius Boyd try 13 minutes from time to see off the Bunnies, with Mark Gasnier's four-pointer five minutes later sealing the result.

The Dragons held a slender 2-0 lead before Boyd's breakthrough effort in a scoreline which had commentators reaching for the record books and fans wishing they were next door at the Easter Show.

The late blowout was not what the Rabbitohs deserved for what was a tough defensive effort, and in fact it was the men in red and green who looked more likely to score for much of the contest before the last onslaught.

Bunnies lock Michael Crocker was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Jason Nightingale, but that was one of few moments of action in an otherwise dour match.

The win lifts the Dragons to first equal with the Storm and the Broncos.