Zahara Temara slots a golden point field goal to win the game for the Raiders against the Dragons, claiming a third NRLW win in a row.
The 19-18 win takes the Raiders to a top four spot handing the Dragons NRLW side their first loss at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
After the opening ten minutes both sides remained scoreless, as penalties from both teams early on halted the momentum of the game.
An attack down the Dragons left edge with some quick ball movement enabled Dragons centre Bobbi Law to take the first points on offer.
Raecene McGregor converted Law’s try to lead 6-0 seven minutes into the first half.
A smart kick off from Temara gave the ball immediately back to the Raiders in the form of a scrum.
This was followed by a smart set play off the scrum handing the ball early to Cheyelle Robins-Reti and drawing in the winger to offload to vacant Shakiah Tungai free on the wing to bounce back and score Raiders opening try.
Temara slotted the conversion with ease taking it to her 50th consecutive to tie the game up for the Raiders at six points apiece.
Some powerful running from the Raiders saw them get on the front foot once again, forcing dropouts to put the pressure on the Dragons defence.
Off the back of the repeat set, hooker Chante Temara caught the defence napping, dummying out of dummy half to squeeze over the line and take the field for the first time in the game.
After fifteen minutes the Raiders led 12-6 after another successful conversion from Temara.
The Raiders continued their bombardment upon the Dragons, as captain Simaima Taufa broke the line followed by a big fend on fullback Teagan Berry to score her second try of the season.
The Taufa try was the third try in nine minutes for the Raiders as Temara makes the scores 18-6 with her conversion.
The Raiders were ever so close to scoring their fourth try as the bunker overruled Hollie Mae-Dodd’s try to keep the scores at 18-6.
Some great defensive shape from the Raiders saw them hold out repeat sets on their line from the Dragons attack.
A knock on just short of the line for the Dragons forced a handover for the Raiders as they stormed up the field with ease topped off with a well-placed kick from Tamara that kept the Dragons in their corner.
A 40/20 from Tamara as the first half was coming to a close gave the Raiders one last chance to score .
New Zealander Kerehitina Matau was left agonisingly close after a review saw the try being ruled out as the half time siren sounded shortly after.
As the game resumed for the second half, both teams struggled to crack the game open.
A successful captains challenge followed by a penalty to the Raiders handed them some crucial field possession but the attack fizzled out.
The Raiders had another chance soon after however the Dragons held them out once again just metres short of the line.
An unforced error from the Raiders coming out of their end handed a chance for the Dragons but a double movement on the first tackle relieved some pressure for the Green Machine.
A dropped ball on the half way line for the Dragons enabled the Raiders to have another attempt at the try line but Madison Bartlett was stopped
A chip and chase on the last tackle from the Dragons saw Berry end up with the ball, finding her way past Apii Nicholls and score next to the posts.
McGregor converted Dragons second try to reduce the margin to just six points.
An attack from the Raiders saw Temara’s kick on last tackle end up in the hands of Dragons winger Law who found Margot Vella on the inside to tie the scores at 18-all.
Inside the final five minutes, a lost ball from the Dragons helped Raiders chances at holding them out in regulation time.
An attempted field goal attempt from McGregor was skewed leaving the scores level at full time to force the game to golden point.
The experienced Temara had a chance from twenty meters out, in which she slots it over the black dot to win the game 19-18.
