A mixed weekend of results for the Canberra Raiders lower grade teams with the Jersey Flegg side recording an important win whilst the NSW Cup team fell short at home.
NSW Cup
The Raiders were defeated by the Dragons 30-18 in a top eight matchup on Saturday afternoon at Raiders Belconnen, with a strong first half from St George being too much to overcome for the home side.
Canberra were able to bring themselves within six points early in the second half but the Dragons broke away again with back to back tries to seal the 12-point victory.
It was an uncharacteristic start from the Raiders who conceded six penalties in the opening ten minutes to gift the Dragons the first try of the afternoon. Halfback Zach Herring crossed over in the 12th minute with his teammate Jack Gosiewski following suit in the 19th minute.
The ill-disciplined start continued to mount for the Raiders with a flurry of errors laying the platform for another St George try.
Down 18-0, Canberra finally broke through with fullback Sione Vuki continuing his red hot form, scoring the first four-pointer of the afternoon for the Raiders.
Trailing by 12-points at half-time, Canberra were determined to score first and did just that with Jayden Clarkson finding the line in the 51st minute. Following Brad Schneider’s conversion the Raiders only trailed by a converted try.
But two tries in the 58th and 73rd minute from the Dragons closed the door on a potential comeback from the Raiders.
Forward Peter Hola found the line with a minute to go but the match was already sealed with the Dragons walking away with the win.
The Raiders will continue to hunt for a top four finish when they face South Sydney at GIO Stadium on Saturday.
Match: Raiders v Dragons
Round 20 -
home Team
Raiders
6th Position
away Team
Dragons
8th Position
Venue: Raiders Belconnen, Canberra
Jersey Flegg
The Canberra Raiders Jersey Flegg side got back in the winners column this weekend with a 28-16 come from behind win against the Dragons at Raiders Belconnen.
Following two tries from the Dragons within the opening ten minutes of the game, it looked as though the top four team was going to race away with the win.
But the Raiders answered with back to back tries of their own with second rower Kaden Williams in the 15th minute and then Josh Billing going over for a four pointer in the 21st minute.
Just before half-time Billing conceded a penalty giving the Dragons a shot at a penalty goal to level the scores. Halfback Braxton Wallace slotted it to lock the scores 10-all going into the break.
Errors riddled the start of the second half with the Raiders able to capitalise first with Billings registering his second try of the match.
It was quickly followed by another Raiders try this time from Jacob Church in the 54th minute. Noah Ryan converted the try to give the Raiders a controlling 12-point lead.
Canberra put the nail in the coffin in the 66th minute with Thomas Casey crossing over the Raiders fifth try of the match. Noah Ryan’s conversion took the Raiders out to an 18-point lead with only a minute to go.
The Dragons managed to score the final try of the game following a knock on from the Raiders. Wallace converted the try to make the final score 28-16 to the Raiders.
Canberra will look to record back to back wins when they face South Sydney at GIO Stadium this Saturday at 3pm.
Match: Raiders v Dragons
Round 20 -
home Team
Raiders
7th Position
away Team
Dragons
4th Position
Venue: Raiders Belconnen, Canberra
