Raiders go back to back after beating Bulldogs20 May 2011, 9:30 pmThe Canberra Raiders have made it back to back wins, with a thrilling 20-12 win over the Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium.
The Green Machine won through tireless and tough defence, with the whole team showing they’re back and ready to get their season moving in the right direction.
Some brutal hits from Jamal Idris highlighted the opening exchanges, as the fired up Bulldogs centre first rag dolled Nathan Massey, before smashing Dane Tilse to force an error. The pressure saw the Raiders on the back foot early, spending most of the first ten minutes down their own end.
The Raiders held their own and ended up getting the ball down the other end and when Joe Picker climbed high to catch a Sam Williams bomb the Raiders were in, as he offloaded to an open backline for Joel Thompson to score. Jarrod Croker missed the goal but it was 4-0 to the Raiders after 12 minutes.
The Bulldogs received a penalty for a strip right in front of the posts and elected to run the footy, but the Raiders defence held firm for two sets and the Raiders then received a penalty for Bulldogs hooker Josh Reynolds running behind a player while attempting to score.
The Raiders scored their second try of the night against the run of play, when Reece Robinson scored from an Andrew Ryan intercept. Robinson picked off the pass 40 metres out and raced away untouched. Croker converted and it was 10-0 after 27 minutes.
Tough defence and a willingness to scramble for each other was the theme of the first half for Canberra and they maintained their 10-0 lead at the break.
The second half started as a war of attrition as both sides traded big blows in the opening exchanges, with the Raiders managing to hold on to the ball and lead to the opening try of the second half.
The try came through Joe picker who scored from just a few metres out, after Sam Williams put in a thumping 40/20 attempt which was regathered by Reece Robinson after Ben Barba tried to keep it in field. Croker added the extras and it was 16-0 after 50 minutes.
The Bulldogs had the bulk of the possession leading into midway through the first half, but time after time the Raiders kept turning up in defence and repelling their attack. With 20 minutes left they still led 16-0.
That lead was extended to 18 shortly after, as Jarrod Croker kicked a penalty goal which was awarded to Canberra for holding down Josh Papalii in a tackle 30 metres out from the line.
The Bulldogs finally got themselves on the board with 16 minutes left on the clock, as back to back penalties and mistakes from the Raiders invited them into their territory. In the end Josh Morris was the man for the Bulldogs, after he ran onto an inside ball from Frank Pritchard. Steve Turner converted and it was 18-6 to Canberra.
An attempt at a field goal from Josh McCrone was mistimed and went askew of the goal posts and the Raiders paid the following set, as a line break allowed Ben Barba to back up and score. Steve Turner converted and it was 18-12 with ten minutes left.
Glen Buttriss went oh so close to sealing the win for Canberra with seven minutes remaining, but some desperate Bulldogs defence kept him from scoring and the game was still in the balance.
The Raiders got a very welcome penalty with two minutes remaining and well in range of sharp shooter Jarrod Croker and he slotted the goal to seal the win.
CANBERRA RAIDERS 20 (Joel Thompson, Reece Robinson, Joe Picker Tries; Jarrod Croker 4 Goals) defeated CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS 12 (Josh Morris, Ben Barba Tries; Steve Turner 2 Goals) at Canberra Stadium. Crowd 12,865.
Source: www.raiders.com.au - Canberra Raiders News Headlines
Topic: Raiders go back to back after beating Bulldogs
