Junior Raiders Triumph Over Spirited BunniesCANBERRA RAIDERS 36(Jack Ahearn 2, Matthew Allwood 2, Sheen Lomax, Mitchell Cronin Tries; Mitchell Cornish 6/6 Goals)
Defeated
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 24(Jordan Tuiavii, Aaron Gray, Jesse Roberts, Tyrone Phillips Tries; Apisai Koroisau 3/3, Phillips 1/1 Goals).
The Canberra Raiders under 20s side remain on top of Toyota Cup ladder after defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs 36- 24 in a spirited contest this evening at the ANZ Stadium.
Fullback Mitchell Cronin and Mitchell Cornish were the architects of the victory, providing a combined total of three line break assists and two try assists throughout the game while fullback Jack Ahearn was also a strong contributor scoring two tries, making one line break and one try assist.
The Raiders were the stronger side throughout the game; however, they started the first half poorly conceding a converted try to Souths Jordan Tuivaii within the first minute of play.
The Raiders’ first try came in 13th minute when a well timed pass by Cornish close to the line allowed forward Sheen Lomax to cross under the posts. This was followed five minutes later by a converted try to Ahearn who bamboozled three South Sydney defenders with some fancy footwork close to the line.
Cronin then got on the score sheet after he backed up a long break from winger Brad Smith in the 25th minute, while Allwood crossed out on the right hand touchline in the 36th minute after receiving a nice cut out ball from Ahearn. Souths then scored a try just on the stroke of halftime through centre Aaron Gray to reduce the Raiders’ lead to 12 points at the break, 24-12.
The Raiders essentially won the game in the second half, showing great character through defying a highly lopsided penalty count and the sin-binning of key forward Hayden Crockett to hold on to victory.
The Rabbitohs were the first to score in the second half when lock Jesse Roberts barged his way over the stripe close to the line in the 50th minute. However, The Green Machine struck back eight minutes later when Ahearn took advantage of some flimsy South Sydney goal line defence to score his second four pointer of the night.
Crockett’s sinning binning came in the 68th minute after referee Phil Haines deemed that the hardworking lock had committed multiple infringements in the play-the-ball. Despite the one man deficit the Raiders managed to score in the 72nd minute with Allwood racing 70 metres to score his second try after taking an intercept from Souths’ half Luke Keary, sealing the game for Raiders.
Similarly to the first half Souths had the last say of the match scoring a late consolation try through fullback Tyrone Phillips.
The Raiders face fellow Toyota Cup heavyweights Wests Tigers next Saturday night at Canberra Stadium in what is bound to be a high quality clash.
Source: Raiders
Topic: Raiders Stay On Top With Yet Another Win
