Souths v Sunnybank Chipsy Wood Oval 3:15pm - 24/4/2010
17	Round 03	36

A more physical and enthusiastic Sunnybank proved to good for 2009 grand finalists Souths, who lost their Round 3 Premier Rugby match 36-17 at Chipsy Wood.
  
Sunnybank and QAS Reds Academy front rower Albert Anae scored two tries for the Dragons, despite missing 10 minutes of the match on a yellow card.

Former Reds prop Olei Avei also joined the scoring with a try for Sunnybank, as did Academy inside back Ben Tapuai.

The Dragons got out to an early lead but a backline move resulted in winger Ashley Ketchell scoring in the corner to narrow the gap to 19-5 at halftime.

Sunnybank scored again early in the second half but Souths struck back again when Anae was sidelined and the Dragons were a man short. It wasn't enough, however, and Sunnybank ran out comfortable winners.

Sunnybank coach, Rob Nowlan was satisfied with the result over their southside rivals, saying the Dragons "played a good team game".

“(It) was a really good win, they (Sunnybank) aimed up really well in defence. Souths had a lot of ball in the second half that was 50-50 ball really, but they managed to stop Souths getting their roll on and eventually got away with the game.”

Magpies coach Dan McKellar said Souths were “out-enthused".

"They (Sunnybank) were more physical than us in every aspect, more physical in the breakdown and they had more enthusiasm.

“We were just off the pace in all aspects today.”

Commenting on the performance of 17 year old Academy flanker Liam Gill, who has signed for the Reds next year, McKellar said: “the young kid is a very good footballer, but we made him look even better today. He’s good kid who is going to play a lot of representative football”.

Sunnybank 36 (A Anae 2, O Avei, B Tapuai, S Seuili, S Tela tries S Tela 3 cons) d Souths 17 (J Tabrett, A Ketchell, P Fou tries B Hamlin con)

Match report by Erin Smith