The Canberra Raiders have made it two wins in a row, defeating the Tigers 28-22 at GIO Stadium.
It was clear the Raiders wanted to carry last week’s momentum into their clash against the Tigers as they came out with some serious intent.
The Raiders were first to score, with a grubber by Zahara Temara piercing the Tigers defensive line for Ashleigh Quinlan to score under the sticks in the fourth minute.
Temara comfortably converted the first try of the day to give the hosts an early 6-0 lead.
The Raiders continued to pile on the pressure, marching down the field as their forward pack put in a shift to gain some valuable field position.
Once again it was Temara who orchestrated another try for the Green Machine, throwing a perfect short ball for Hollie-Mae Dodd to cross over the chalk on the right edge in the eighth minute. Temara converted to further the Raiders lead to 12-0.
With the visitors on the backfoot, a Tigers 40/20 shifted the momentum as they tried to fight their way back into the battle.
The Tigers shifted the ball down the left edge, finding Leianne Tufuga to score in the corner. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale converted from the sideline to reduce the deficit to 12-6 by the 15th minute.
The Tigers continued to attack down the left edge, with second rower Kezie Apps slipping through the Raiders defence to score in the 21st minute. Piliae-Rasabale converted to leave the score locked in at 12-all.
Each side rallied together to tighten up their defence as the game turned into a back-and-forth battle, with some strong runs and hard tackles on display as the half came to a close with the scoreboard still reading 12-all at the break.
Resuming from the break, both sides were in a deadlock with some strong defensive efforts being displayed, but it was the host who made the breakthrough.
Temara continued to control the Raiders attack, throwing a pinpoint cutout pass down the right edge for winger Shakiah Tungai to score. Temara was unable to convert from the sideline, leaving the score to read 16-12 by the 49th minute.
The Green Machine continued to challenge their opposition, scoring again just minutes later through second rower Monalisa Soliola in the 50th minute. Temara comfortably converted to further the hosts lead to 22-12.
As the Tigers began to threaten the Raiders try line down the left edge, Tungai took an intercept where Tigers Kezie Apps caught her 20m out from the Tigers tryline.
Apps illegally stripped the ball, resulting in her being sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.
The Raiders capitalised on this, with centre Cheyelle Robins-Reti scoring in the following set. Temara once again converted for the Raiders, boosting the hosts lead to 28-12 by the 58th minute.
Leianne Tufuga completed her double for the Tigers in the 64th minute, as the visitors tried to claw their way back into the game. Piliae-Rasabale was unsuccessful in converting from the sideline, with the score left at 28-26.
In the 68th minute, Leianne Tufuga continued to take matters into her own hands, completing her hattrick as she displayed some individual brilliance. Emily Curtain converted from in front of the posts to make it 28-22.
Unfortunately for the visitors that wasn’t enough, with the Raiders defeating the Tigers 28-22 to make it two wins in a row to start their NRLW season.
