The Canberra Raiders have gone down 28-14 to the Cronulla Sharks in their first game of the 2023 NRLW season after a gallant effort.
Madison Bartlett was key for the Raiders scoring two tries and going in for the clubs' first four-pointer in the NRLW.
The Sharks were the first ones over the line with a try in the seventh minute to Emma Tonegato with the speed that broke the Raiders defence.
Tayla Preston kicked the successful conversion which left scores 6-0 in favour of the Sharks.
The Sharks were in again on the left edge in the 22nd minute off the back of a line break from Jada Taylor, Tiana Penitani went over for the second try of the afternoon which had scores 10-0.
Quincy Dodd was in next for the Sharks in the 27th minute scoring after breaking the line on the left edge which brought scores 14-0 to Cronulla.
The Raiders weren’t shying away before halftime, after three consecutive penalties the side was in for their first try in NRLW history with Madison Bartlett flying over the line in the 33rd minute.
The Halftime score was left at 14-4 to the Sharks.
The Raiders were first to hit the tries off for the second half in the 36th minute with Emma Barnes breaking the defence under the posts in her first NRLW game.
Raiders Zahara Temara successfully converted the try which brought scores out with just a four-point difference in favour of the Sharks.
But the Sharks answered just minutes later with Quincy Dodd going over for her second try of the afternoon which brought scores out 18-10.
Along with the conversion scores were 20-10 to Cronulla.
Vanessa Foliaki was in over the line next for the Sharks scoring right on the edge in the 45th minute which had scores 24-10 for the Sharks.
The Sharks were in again in the 64th minute with a try for Ellie Johnston which brought the scores out to 28-10 to the Sharks.
But the Raiders were not finished with Madison Bartlett going over for the Raiders in the 68th minute collecting her second for the afternoon which had scores settled at 28-14 in favour of the Sharks at fulltime.
