The Canberra Raiders have kept their opposition scoreless for the second time this season with a 19-0 win over the Parramatta Eels at GIO Stadium on Sunday night in front of 16,059 fans.
Canberra started the game off hot with strong multiple sets and forced drop outs from Sam Williams inside the Eels half. Parramatta held off the attack leading to both teams searching for their first try against sturdy defences.
A 70 metre intercept run from Co-captain Jarrod Croker led to another forced drop out from Sam Williams and with Parramatta on the back foot, Raiders’ Jack Wighton looked to score in the left corner but was stripped by Eels’ fullback and captain Clint Gutherson.
With the Green Machine looking to break through the solid Eels defence, Josh Papalii breaks the line ten metres out to score the first try of the night coming in the 29th minute with the conversion successful from Croker.
The Raiders kept applying the pressure late in the first half forcing a penalty from Parramatta leading to a successful penalty goal from Croker with three minutes to spare to make the halftime score 8-0.
In the 49th minute, the Raiders charged inside the Eels half once again this time leading to Canberra’s second try from Elliott Whitehead of a Hodgson grubber increasing the lead to 12 points with the conversion was unsuccessful from Croker.
With the Raiders in control of the game, Joe Tapine was carried off the field with a suspected leg injury. Tapine had just returned back to the squad after missing since round 2 with a thumb injury.
After three attempts in the night, Wighton flew through the air of a high ball from Williams in the 62nd minute to score the third try of the night and with a successful conversion from Croker the Raiders extended the lead to 18-0.
In the last ten minutes of the game, Parramatta’s Michael Jennings came close to scoring but a double try saving tackle from Croker and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad kept the Eels scoreless.
With three minutes to go, Sam Williams once again closed out the game with a field goal pushing the lead to 19-0.
Canberra Raiders 19 (Tries: Papalii, Whitehead, Wighton; Goals: Croker 3/4 Field Goal: Williams 1/1 ) d Parramatta Eels 0
