The Canberra Raiders have secured a tight 22-18 win over the Penrith Panthers on a picturesque Saturday afternoon at GIO Stadium.
After trailing by eight points halfway through the second half, the Canberra Raiders, thanks to some individual brilliance from the outside backs, came from behind and claimed an impressive victory in their last home game of the season.
The home side started the better of the two with Jamal Fogarty’s kicking game placing the back three of the Panthers under pressure in the opening exchanges.
Canberra took advantage of this through Xavier Savage rising above Brian To’o, collecting a Fogarty midfield bomb and racing away to score in the right corner.
A penalty provided the visitors with their best field position of the afternoon, with the defending premiers only needing the one set as Luke Sommerton deceived the markers and burrowed next to the uprights, putting the Panthers in front 6-4.
After Sebastian Kris desperately stopped Daine Laurie at one end, the Raiders hit back through a strong attacking set which was capped off by Kaeo Weekes, collecting a Tapine offload to score under the sticks and restoring their lead.
It wouldn’t take long for the visitors to hit back through a well executed shift on the last tackle finished off by a flying Daine Laurie in the corner levelling the score at ten points all.
An error off the kick off provided the Panthers with an attacking opportunity on the Raiders defensive line, with a penalty for high contact on Fisher Harris allowing the Panthers to take a penalty goal and the lead.
In an exciting opening forty minutes, the visitors entered the break holding the slight two point advantage and the game in the balance for both sides.
First points in the second half were critical for both sides, with the Panthers the first to cross the stripe after Isaah Yeo sliced through the Raiders defence with Fisher Harris following through to score under the posts, extending their lead to eight.
The game descended into a back and forth arm wrestle with both sides going set for set and limiting the risks taken and both sides aiming up in defence looking to force an error.
The Raiders outside backs broke the game open in the 60th minute, with Hopoate and Kris linking up on the left out of yardage for a superb long range try bringing the home fans to their feet.
The Raiders defensive line was under immense pressure from the Panthers line up with a well directed grubber kick from Luai forcing an error from Savage.
Despite attacking the Raiders line it was Matt Timoko who took a chance and stepped up in the passing lane to cut off a Jarome Luai pass, finding flyer Xavier Savage who ran forty to score his second of the afternoon and give the home side the lead.
The Panthers fought hard in the remaining five minutes, however tough scrambling and physical defence from the Raiders ensured they left GIO stadium with the two competition points.
The Canberra Raiders will look to build on the momentum next weekend as they travel down the Hume highway next Sunday for a clash against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
