Broncos come from behind
to defeat Raiders

Round 8
Brisbane Broncos 30 v Canberra Raiders 28
at Suncorp Stadium
Referees: Russell Smith

Match Summary:
The Brisbane Broncos have defeated the Canberra Raiders 30-28 at Suncorp Stadium this evening.

Amazingly, the Raiders held an 18-0 lead at half time through tries to Tongue, Mogg and Croker, who was playing in his 300th match for the Raiders. The Raiders looked set to run away with the match but their second half nightmare was never far from their minds as the Raiders gave up 24 unanswered points in fifteen minutes to find themselves behind by a converted try early in the second half.

The Raiders then hit back with another ten unanswered points to take a 28-24 lead with less than fifteen minutes remaining but the Broncos were not to be denied as they scored in the 68th minute through Justin Hodges with Darren Lockyer kicking what was to be the match winning goal.

The Broncos held on in the remaining ten minutes with the Raiders left to rue yet another loss away from home and a game that should have been in the bag by half time. To score 28 points and lose is simply unacceptable but when you lose as often as the Raiders do, letting the close ones go is a very hard habit to break.

Brisbane maintain their place in the top eight and are now equal competition leaders with the North Queensland Cowboys while the Raiders continue to live up to everyone?s expectations by finding themselves well off the pace as we enter the grueling representative season.


Scorers:
Brisbane Broncos: 30
Tries: Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt(2), Darren Lockyer, David Stagg
Goals: Darren Lockyer 1/1, Corey Parker 4/4
Canberra Raiders: 28
Tries: Jason Croker, Adam Mogg(2), Clinton Schifcofske, Alan Tongue
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 4/5

By the Clock:
1 min: NEWS We are underway at Suncorp Stadium this evening for the clash between the Broncos and Raiders with both sides having plenty to play for. For the Raiders, a spot in the top eight beckons while for the Broncos, they have players pressing for test selection and a good showing tonight may go a long way to securing the coveted green and gold jersey.

6 min: NEWS Very even start to the match from both sides in the opening exchanges.

12 min: NEWS 12 minutes in and still no score with the Raiders holding their own at the moment.

17 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Alan tongue, the Raiders pocket dynamo, has scored the opening try of the match to give the Raiders and early lead. Can they build on it? Let's wait and see.
Raiders 6-0

23 min: NEWS Possession slightly in favour of the Broncos but the Raiders are hanging in there and still hold a six point lead as we move into the second stanza of the first half.

26 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
The Raiders are in again with Jason Croker the scorer this time. Conversion successful.
Raiders 12-0

33 min: NEWS Still no cahnge to the score but the Broncos are now starting to dominate in possession but are yet to register their first points for the night.

34 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
The Raiders are in again, this time through Adam Mogg. They are making a liar out of me as they hold a commanding 18 point lead heading into half time. Conversion successful.
Raiders 18-0

40 min: NEWS The Canberra Raiders hold an 18 point lead at half time and have kept the Broncos scoreless thoughout the opening forty minutes. As we all know, 18 points is not a match winning lead these days and the Raiders will have to work very hard if they are to win this game as their second half "efforts" in 2006 have been their major stumbling block. Having said that, the Broncos have a lot of work to do to get the points and it will take a big second half effort to get home but they are more than capable of piling on the quick points to dsmantle even the best defences in the NRL.

41 min: NEWS We are underway in the second half.

43 min: TRY Brisbane Broncos
Broncos captain Darren Lockyer gets the home side on the board early into the second half and it's game on for the Raiders. Can they go on to win the match or will the Broncos run them down and prevail at home?
Raiders 18-6

48 min: TRY Brisbane Broncos
Here come the Broncos with David Stagg crossing to cut the lead to just six points with plenty of time left on the clock. The Raiders are doing their usual second half capitulation.
Raiders 18-12

51 min: TRY Brisbane Broncos
Talk about a game of two halves. Karmichael Hunt has crossed to get the Broncos right back into the match and the Raiders hoist the white flag and only just over ten minutes has passed in the second half. I can smell a bloodbath unless the Raiders dig their heels in and fight hard for the remainder of the match.
18 all.

55 min: TRY Brisbane Broncos
The white flag has been well and truly hoisted with Karmichael Hunt getting his second for the Broncos and they have piled on 24 points in 15 minutes. The Raiders have capitulated as predicted and the Broncos will be in complete control from here on until the final whistle.
Broncos 24-18

57 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
The Raiders have crossed through Adam Mogg and the game has now become a scoring frenzy with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Broncos 24-22

62 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
The Raiders are in again to put them back in the lead after squandering an 18 point half time lead. Defence has gone out the window from both sides with Clinton Schifcofske regaining the lead for the Raiders. In the second half we have seen 34 points scored in 22 minutes. Unbelievable!
Raiders 28-24



68 min: TRY Brisbane Broncos
The Broncs hit right back as the match takes another twist with Justin Hodges soring to give the Broncos the lead with ten minutes remaining. How Canberra let the Broncos back into the game is beyond me but there still may be a few twists before the final whistle.
Broncos 30-28

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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Corey Parker (Broncos)
2 - Alan Tongue (Raiders)
1 - Karmichael Hunt (Broncos)
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