Rebels stun Marlins with fairy tale finish!

Is there a more exhilarating rugby moment than the backline sprinting in to join a rolling maul with their forwards brothers? Photo credit: Jessica Reading-Book How about scoring a try to tie the match with seconds remaining? Then add a pressure sideline conversion to win the match after the siren! Photo credit: Jessica Reading-Book Fly-half Rohan Saifoloi maintained amazing composure to send his conversion from out wide over to cap an amazing win, as Southern Districts overcame a late 12 point deficit against the runaway competition leaders Manly. Not to mention the Rebels extending their winning streak to six matches, and clinching their first win over the Spit Bridge against the Marlins since 2008. - - - - The first 25 minutes of the match was a tight affair, with an early exchange of the penalties the only work for the scoreboard attendant. The visitors perhaps had the better of territory via some astute tactical kicking. Alex Perez reached out and broke the 3-3 deadlock with the first try of the day, after some patient phase play in the lead up. Photo credit: Jessica Reading-Book Unfortunately the boys went to the sheds trailing 10-13, after an intercept try to Manly winger Tom Chesters in the 36th minute. The Rebels looked certain to score another try as they attacked the right corner with a three on one overlap, but it was Chesters who plucked the ball and ran 90 metres to score. What could have been a 17 – 3 half time lead, became a deficit with Manly adding another penalty at the very end of the half. Manly upped the tempo in the second half, where at times they seemed to be offloading the ball in the tackle at all costs to their support players. The match may have slipped off the outstretched hand of Luke Smart in the 49th minute, as he was sin-binned for a deliberate knock down of the ball. Southern Districts were stoic in defence while a man down, but finally conceded in the 54th minute as Manly centre Dennis Pili-Gaitua crossed. Crucially Saifoloi kicked a penalty in the 57th minute from 38 metres, which reduced the gap to 13-20. Then Marlins put on a spectacular try down the left edge, with fullback Josh Turner completing some sharp backline play. At 13-25, with only 20 minutes remaining, Smart was allowed to return to the field. The Rebels got a sniff in the 71st minute as the Marlin’s hooker James Hilterbrand was yellow carded for the remainder of the match for not releasing in the tackle. After a kick to the corner and a build up of seven phases, big back rower Albert Hemopo got over the line strongly. Saifoloi converted, and it was back to just 20-25 with five minutes play. Photo credit: Jessica Reading-Book Manly’s defence lifted to protect the slim lead and when Southern Districts knocked on 30 metres out with 1:40 on the clock, another close loss this season North of the Harbour Bridge looked inevitable. But the pressure from the Souths scrum forced a penalty, and they kicked to the corner as the clock wound down to the final few seconds. Captain Marcus Carbone caught the lineout ball and as it came to ground and the maul set, man of the match half-back Dewet Roos screamed for help from the backs. The whole team effort to drive over hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa for the match levelling try epitomised the spirit and never say die attitude displayed by the playing group. Photo credit: Jessica Reading-Book Of course with the siren having now sounded, Saifoloi still needed to convert the try from only 10 metres inside. With a capacity Manly crowd watching on in disbelief, the ball sailed through the uprights and Saifoloi was mobbed by his jubilant team mates. The win consolidates fourth position on the Shield Shield ladder for Southern Districts, and they can press for a home final should results fall their way in the remaining. It’s Penrith this Saturday back at home, followed by second placed Warringah at Forshaw in 2 weeks also, before a road trip to Coogee Oval against Randwick in the last round. Meanwhile for Manly, the loss sees them only clear by five points and facing local arch rival Warringah at Rat Park, with the minor premiership now well and truly back up for grabs. Southern Districts 27 (Tries: Alex Perez, Albert Hemopo, Brandon Paenga-Amosa; Cons: Rohan Saifoloi 3; Pens: Saifoloi 2; Yellow Card: Luke Smart) defeated Manly 25 (Tries: Tom Chesters, Dennis Pili-Gaitau, Josh Turner; Cons: Sam Lane 2; Pens: Lane 2; Yellow Card: James Hilterbrand)Penned by Favourite Son Hill StorytellerBrendan MacNamara