As It Happened: Raiders V Roosters - Holden Cup

[Archie]

Canberra Raiders V Sydney Roosters
Round 22 Holden Cup @ Canberra Stadium

As It Happened:

Getting close to the start of the top of the table clash between the first placed Raiders and second placed Roosters. Hawkins and Brenko Lee return to the Raiders team today! Go mighty Green Machine!

FIRST HALF

The teams are on the field at the SFS and we're ready for kickoff in the Holden Cup between the Raiders and Roosters. Should be a great match this one! Roosters kick off and it's game on!

Roosters score early in their first set. They made a break down field then Batiste stepped past the Raiders defence to get the try. Elliot takes the conversion and gets it. Roosters lead 6-0 after 3 mins.

Ahearn almost kicks a 40/20 but the ball goes out just short of the 20m line. Still a good set by the Raiders.

Roosters score again. Reuben can't take a high kick by Tyler Cornish and Elliot takes the ball and gets the try right in the corner. The Raiders defence was very close to taking him out but he just got there. Apparently the Raiders arrived at the SFS late because of bad traffic around the stadium. Elliot tries to convert his own try and is successful. Roosters lead 12-0 after 8 mins.

Raiders score! Pangai makes a brilliant charge down on a Tyler Cornish kick and runs away untouched to get the try! Brilliant catch! Worboys converts. Roosters lead 12-6 after 10 mins.

Raiders go back to back! Ahearn throws one of his trademark cutout passes to Roberts who dashes over in the corner. Raiders have really woken up now after a slow start and are making lots of meters with the ball. Worboys just misses the conversion. Roosters lead 12-10 after 15 mins.

Raiders hit the lead! Reuben steps off his wing and goes over after another great pass from Ahearn. Roosters are challenging the call for obstruction. One of the Roosters gets knocked over by Pangai but it was away from the play. Challenge is unsuccessful and the try is awarded. Schubach takes the conversion and gets it. Raiders lead 16-12 after 17 mins.

Raiders go very close to scoring again but the ball is lost close to the line. Canberra are storming down the field at the moment whenever they have possession.

Raiders are in again! Reuben gets a double in a matter of minutes after Heffernan created space for him down the sideline. Lots of points early in this game! Schubach takes the conversion and gets it. Raiders lead 22-12 after 23 mins.

Raiders score again off the back of a Roosters error. The Raiders made an error and gave the Roosters a scrum on halfway but they dropped the ball and it ended up with Hawkins who beat Tyler Cornish in the race to the try line. Worboys just misses the conversion. Raiders lead 26-12 after 28 mins.

Roosters score. The Raiders made an error on halfway and the Roosters worked it down to the try line and Cornish gives a short pass to Capewell who goes over for the try. Elliot converts. Raiders lead 26-18 after 32 mins.

Roosters force a drop out off a Cornish kick. There has been a bit of a momentum shift in the last 5 mins. Raiders need to defend strongly here.

Brenko Lee forces a drop ball from the Roosters with some good defence.

Raiders are challenging a call. It was ruled that Hawkins touched a Roosters pass mid flight then Lee picked it up in an offside position. Raiders are questioning if Hawkins has touched it. Challenge is successful but its ruled as a Raiders knock on instead of offside and Roosters still get the ball.

Roosters get a penalty right as the half time siren goes for Pangai holding down in a tackle. They are taking a shot at goal. Elliot lines it up and misses.

Half time Raiders lead Roosters 26-18 in the Holden Cup.

SECOND HALF

Raiders kick off to the second half in the Holden Cup against the Roosters. Raiders lead 26-18.

Roosters score very early in the second half right in the corner. Looked like Ahearn took him out but on replay he got it down just in time. Goodsell was the try scorer. Elliot takes the conversion from the sideline and misses. Raiders lead 26-22 after 43 mins.

Raiders hit straight back! Ahearn gives it to Reuben who puts a brilliant in and away step on the Roosters fullback and races away to get the try. That's a hat trick for Reuben already today! Worboys misses the conversion. Raiders lead 30-22 after 47 mins.

Roosters score from close range with a dart out of dummy half by their interchange hooker Deitz. Elliot takes the conversion from right in front and gets it. Raiders lead 30-28 after 53 mins.

Raiders go very close to scoring but pass the ball out over the touch line at the end of it. Raiders need to settle down a little and just take the tackle in some instances instead of pushing the pass. Roosters make an error and give Canberra the ball back close to the try line.

Too good! Raiders score again! Ahearn puts a perfect little chip kick over the heads of the Roosters and it lands in Reuben's lap and he plants it down for the try. That's 4 for Reuben today and he equals the most tries in a u20s match for the Raiders. Heffernan attempts to convert but misses. Raiders lead 34-28 after 60 mins.

Ahearn gets a repeat set with another perfect kick which the Roosters have to take out. Scrum to Canberra 10m out.

Raiders score again! Schubach puts in a perfect little kick for Ahearn who plants it down under the posts. Cleaver play by the Raiders. Schubach takes the conversion and misses from right in front. Raiders lead 38-28 with 12 mins left. Raiders have missed 5 conversions in this match.

Raiders are challenging a lost ball call against them. Looks like a strip but the original decision stands and the Roosters will get the scrum feed in the Raiders half.

Roosters lose the ball off the back of the scrum and let the pressure off the Raiders.

Elliot was away down the touch line but Ahearn comes across and takes him out with a great covering try saver. Raiders lead 38-28 with 6 mins left.

Ahearn forces another repeat set with a kick which the Roosters have to take into touch again. Brilliant game again by Ahearn today.

Raiders lead 38-28 with 2 mins left in the Holden Cup.

Roosters score after going the length of the field in one set. Conversion missed. Raiders lead 38-32 with 15 secs left.

Raiders almost score on the siren off a Roosters error but they were offside. That's full time!

Raiders defeat Roosters 38-32 and now have a 5 point lead at the top of the Holden Cup ladder!

Full Time: Raiders 38 - Roosters 32

Source: Raiders LIVE Match Centre - raiders.net.au/gameday