Canberra Raiders Cup 2021: Round 16 Preview
With just three rounds remaining in the Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup before finals kick off, the competition is heating up. The West Belconnen Warriors take on the Queanbeyan Kangaroos in the match of the round this week as they battle it out to maintain their top four positions.
Match of the round: West Belconnen Warriors v Queanbeyan Kangaroos, 3pm Saturday August 14 at Raiders Belconnen
The West Belconnen Warriors are sitting just below the Queanbeyan Kangaroos on the ladder, and a win this weekend will push them into third position and secure their spot in the top four.
The Warriors are coming off a bye last weekend, so they will be fresh-and ready to take on the Kangaroos.
But after a dominant performance by the Kangaroos last weekend in their 42-22 win over the Goulburn City Bulldogs, this game will be a big test for West Belconnen.
Kangaroos five-eighth Thomas Casey has been very dangerous for his team this season, his performance last week was no different as he secured two tries in his side’s win .
For the Warriors, their last game in round 14 saw them fall to the top of the table Gungahlin Bulls in a close 24-16 defeat.
Raiders player Darby Medlyn has recently joined the club for the remainder of the season after the NSW Cup competition was cancelled. Bringing NRL experience to the side will be valuable as they hope to secure that top three position on Saturday.
Hear from Queanbeyan Roos second rower Jeremiah Simbiken as he previews the game.
Queanbeyan Blues v Gungahlin Bulls, 3pm Saturday August 14 at Seiffert Oval
It will be a battle for top spot as the Queanbeyan Blues take on the Gungahlin Bulls on Saturday.
Each side is proving their strengths every week as they continue to dominate the competition with finals approaching.
For the Bulls their focus has been on their defence in the back end of the season, and they will have to be on their A-game this weekend if they want to keep the Blues out.
For the Blues, they have proven how strong they are as a team with all their positions contributing to their score each week. In their 50- 28 win over the Yass Magpies last weekend, there were seven different try-scorers in the team, which is incredibly dangerous for the Bulls defence.
The Blues will also look to keep their undefeated streak at Seiffert Oval this season alive and secure the top spot on the ladder.
Woden Valley Rams v Yass Magpies, 3pm Saturday August 14 at Phillip Oval
The Woden Valley Rams face the Yass Magpies this Saturday, with the Rams looking to make it back to back wins.
A win for the Rams could see them move away from bottom place on the ladder, as they look to finish their season on a high.
The Rams are coming off an impressive 28-22 win over the Tuggeranong Bushrangers last weekend which saw them claim their second win of the season.
With Raiders NSW Cup players Albert Hopoate and Clay Webb giving the Rams a boost, they will be full of confidence coming into the weekend.
The Yass Magpies had a good first half against the Blues last round, going into half-time 22-22, but eventually went down 52-28. They’ll want to produce a better second half this weekend.
Goulburn City Bulldogs v Belconnen United Sharks, 3pm Sunday August 15 at Workers Arena
The Goulburn City Bulldogs will take on the Belconnen United Sharks as they make a last-minute run for finals.
Goulburn endured a tough 42-22 loss last round against the Queanbeyan Kangaroos which saw their finals hopes slightly fade.
They are currently three points behind the fourth-placed West Belconnen Warriors, so a string of wins in the last three rounds may be the only way Goulburn will be able to reach the top four, depending on what the third and fourth position teams achieve.
For the Sharks they will be looking to get a win after a tough 28-14 loss against the Gungahlin Bulls last weekend.
The Sharks finals hopes are looking slim at the moment but anything could happen so they will want to win to keep any chances alive.
