Raiders back with big win over Eels The Canberra Raiders have snapped a two game losing streak in fine style, with a determined 25-12 win over the Parramatta Eels on a chilly night at Canberra Stadium.
The Raiders celebrated the Women in League round by wearing a pink jersey and kit, with the healthy crowd at Canberra Stadium getting behind the cause.
The Pink Machine looked to have scored first through Joel Thompson after some lovely short passing down the right hand side of the field, but the video referee ruled that Joel Thompson had the ball stripped over the line while attempting to score.
The Raiders looked the team most likely again after 14 minutes when they went to the air through Sam Williams, but Jarrod Croker knocked the ball on while trying to chase the kick.
Williams continued to apply pressure to the Eels defence as he threaded the ball in for a goal line drop out and the Raiders continued to build early pressure.
The young Raiders halfback reaped the benefits of his hard work soon after, as he stepped his way through some tired Eels defence to score the opening try of the match. Jarrod Croker converted and it was 6-0 after 20 minutes.
Josh McCrone was the next to score for the Raiders as he broke through from a scrum to race 30 metres to dive over for the try, Croker converted and it was 12-0 to the Raiders after 26 minutes.
The Raiders received a penalty for holding down with ten minutes left on the clock in the first half and Captain Alan Tongue handed the conversion over to Jarrod Croker who slotted it through for the 14-0 lead and that’s how the score remained until halftime.
The Eels were the first to score after halftime through their hooker Matt Keating, after the Eels received back to back sets due to mistakes by the Raiders. Luke Burt converted and it was 14-6 after 46 minutes.
It didn’t take the Raiders long to hit back though as Nathan Massey scored just five minutes later, when the Raiders decided to run the ball on the last tackle. Glen Buttriss spotted the markers lazy in defence to put Josh McCrone into a gap and the inform five-eighth did the rest to send Massey away. Croker missed the goal but the Raiders were back out to a 12 point lead at 18-6.
With 20 minutes left on the clock the Raiders looked certain to score their fourth try, but Nathan Massey couldn’t quite hold on to the ball as he dived over the try line under the uprights.
A mistake the following set from Massey and then a penalty to the Eels for pushing Jarryd Hayne gave the Eels back to back sets and they used the advantage, as Ben Smith scored on the right hand side of the field. Burt converted and it was 18-12 with 15 minutes left.
With eight minutes remaining the Raiders almost scored a length of a field try when Nathan Massey ran 80 metres before offloading for Reece Robinson who was tackled, before Josh McCrone kicked a bizarre field goal which rebounded off an Eels player to sneak over the Crossbar for a 19-12 lead.
Sam Williams then sealed the win for the Raiders with a charge down of a Jarryd Hayne kick, where he kicked through twice for himself to score. Croker converted for the 25-12 scoreline.
Williams kicked a thumping kick the next set to give the Raiders one final chance to score but the ball was spilled and the Raiders finished with the 25-12 win.
2011 NRL Season - Round 16:
Canberra Raiders - 25
Tries: Sam Williams (2), Nathan Massey, Josh McCrone
Goals: Jarrod Croker 4/5
Field Goals: Josh McCrone
Parramatta Eels - 12
Tries: Matthew Keating, Ben Smith
Goals: Luke Burt 2/2
Crowd: 13,457 @ Canberra Stadium
Referees: Jarred Maxwell & Chris James
Half Time: Canberra 14-0
Source: Sports Australia
Topic: Raiders back with big win over Eels
