By Mark Cashman

Southern Districts pulled off probably the surprise result of the first round when they motored home to beat fancied Eastwood 34-15 on Saturday.

The Woods are considered to be one of the front runners for the premiership but in a knock ‘em down drag ‘em out encounter were overwhelmed late in this game.

Two yellow cards (rugby league recruit Tim Simona and Chris Bell) didn’t help the Eastwood cause but they managed to stay in touch and the score at half time had the Rebels ahead 14-12.

But the second half was a different kettle of fish and Souths were able to out enthuse the visitors at Forshaw who were honoured to have the Prime Minister and local Federal member Scott Morrison kick off.

Rebels coach Todd Louden said: “I thought it was very much like one of those heavyweight boxing matches.

“There was plenty of rust out there particularly in the first half but both sides were on the lookout for any weaknesses.

“Things really opened up in the second half and we were able to come away with the result.

“Eastwood are a side that will be there or thereabouts as the season matures. What we saw from them on the weekend certainly wasn’t the finished product.”

Souths have the bye this week but they will be searching for an appropriate replacement with skipper Marcus Carbone hobbling off with an ACL injury that looks like it will end his season.

“Losing Marcus will be hard but we have options in Nick Brown and possibly Jed Holloway coming back from the Waratahs,” Louden added.

Another league recruit Harry McLennan ended up scoring two tries in a solid all round effort while Will Latu in the centres and Daniel Bell at fullback showed out.

Eastwood coach Ben Batger said: “It was as simple as this, they turned up to play and we didn’t.

“A lot of people look at us and think that we should just click right from the word go but we’ve got a lot of new players in our side and it just takes time.

“From last year’s group we have a new fullback, two wingers, a new 10, seven and five as well as a new three and we have lost four locks in the course of the past month.

“We’ve just got to get over it. Cry for the first 24 hours and then go about making the changes that need to be made.”

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 34 (James Wayland, Harry McLennan 2, Christian Kagiassis, Liam Dwyer tries; Kagiassis 3 conversions, 1 pen goal) d EASTWOOD 19 (Matthew Gonzalez, Lachlan Shelley, Enoka Muliufi tries; Tane Edmed 2 conversions)