NSW Cup & Jersey Flegg: Round 5 Wrap

Our NSW Cup Raiders secured their first win of the season last Saturday with a 42-14 win over the Newtown Jets at home at Raiders Belconnen.

While the Jets opened the scoring, Raiders lock Myles Martin struck back immediately with a commanding run through the middle of the field before putting in a handy grubber which found halfback Adam Cook.

After trading points with the Jets, the Raiders took control of the game with Jed Stuart nabbing a try on the right side thanks to some quick hands from five-eighth Jalen Afamasaga.

In the 29th minute, Stuart bagged his second try of the match, finishing off an excellent aerial contest to extend the Raiders' lead.

In the second half the Jets looked to strike back, picking up a few tries to narrow the lead. But Raiders winger Jensen Taumoepeau crushed any hope of Newtown mounting a comeback, as a strong run off a cut-out pass from Adam cook had him charging across the line.

From there it was one-way traffic as our Raiders put three more tries on the Jets to mark a final score of 42-12.

A driving factor of this win was kicker Adam Cook, who had a perfect game off the boot, slotting seven from seven conversions to seal the victory.

The NSW Cup Raiders look to carry this momentum into their clash with the Paramatta Eels this Saturday.

Jersey Flegg Cup

The Raiders’ Jersey Flegg Cup side were outgunned at home by the Cronulla Sharks last Saturday, falling 32-18 at Raiders Belconnen.

After a tough first half, Canberra mounted an impressive comeback in the second to claim the lead 57 minutes in.

A sharp line break from Raiders centre Regan Carr set up fullback Trae Bennetto to open the scoring for the Green Machine just after halftime, with the fullback crucially securing his own conversion.

Building on this momentum shift, a critical line break from interchange second-rower Jai Purser added another six points to the scoreboard as Bennetto added the extras.

A Sharks penalty gave the Raiders another chance at the line as five-eighth Jaxen Yow took the green machine into the lead.

However, the Sharks proved too strong in the later stages of the game, crossing three more times unanswered to close the match out with a try from wingers Richard Whalebone and a double from hooker Jai Camilleri.

Having started the season strong, Canberra sits third on the ladder and will look to bounce back from this loss when they take on the Eels at home next week at Lidcombe Oval in Sydney.