Souths in controversial victory over Bulldogs

MATT ENCARNACION SOUTH Sydney have scored twice in the final five minutes to claim a controversial fourpoint NRL win over Canterbury in their annual Good Friday clash.

The Rabbitohs were trailing 16-10 at ANZ Stadium when Hymel Hunt crossed in the 75th minute to give the home side a sniff.

Rookie playmaker Adam Doueihi thought he blew a chance to force golden point when he missed the tricky conversion, but Cameron Murray sliced through two minutes later to stun the crowd of 32,471. The Bulldogs, however, are certain to feel aggrieved over a contentious first-half try to Greg Inglis that forced lead referee Ben Cummins to apologise to captain Josh Jackson.

Cummins pulled Jackson out in the 34th minute to warn him over repeated penalties inside their 20m line, but allowed play to resume despite the forward still moving back into the defensive line.

The Rabbitohs spread the ball on the first play and Inglis powered over a retreating Jackson to cut a 12-0 deficit to six, with Cummins apologising to the Bulldogs skipper.

“I’m sorry Josh, I didn’t re- alise,” he was heard saying after the try.

Rubbing salt into the wound for the Bulldogs is a suspected broken jaw to fullback Moses Mbye, while prop Aiden Tolman failed to finish the match after picking up an ankle injury.

The Rabbitohs also face a nervous wait, with star forward Sam Burgess on report for striking Josh Morris with his arm on a regulation carry in the second half.

The match started ominously for the Bulldogs, who lost Mbye following a sickening head collision with Robert Jennings in the sixth minute.