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Knights get the choccies over Raiders on Easter Sunday
With Kurt Gidley and Willie Mason coming in late into the team, the Newcastle Knights were looking to make it 3 from 3 at home in 2013. But Canberra had a dream start with a 40/20 from Josh McCrone to give Canberra an early sniff of the line. Sandor Earl did cross the line but the pass was called back.
At the 16th minute, the Knights broke the line with a cross field kick by Jarrod Mullen to Akuila Uate on the full. Newcastle quickly crossed again through Anthony Quinn to make it 10-0 after 22 minutes.
Canberra made it a contest with tries to Joel Thompson and Josh Papalli and headed into the half time break with the lead of 12-10.
Newcastle came out with the dream start Canberra had as Jarrod Mullen kicked a 40/20. However, they couldn't convert the early opportunity with Darius Boyd slightly touching the ball in a contest for the ball.
Kurt Gidley did not return in the second half with concussion but Newcastle didn't miss him. Tyrone Roberts slotted into the vacant spot and crossed the line after 50 minutes.
Some basic footy continued for the rest of the half but a double by Adam Cuthbertson completed the game and the Knights are into the top 4 with a 28-12 win.
Match Details
Newcastle Knights 28 Canberra Raiders 12
Venue: Newcastle International Sports Centre
Crowd: 18,689
Halftime Score: Canberra 12-10
LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Jarrod Mullen
2 points - Tyrone Roberts
1 point - Adam Cuthbertson
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (28)
Tries: Akuila Uate, Anthony Quinn, Tyrone Roberts, Adam Cuthbertson (2)
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (1/2), Tyrone Roberts (3/3)
CANBERRA RAIDERS (12)
Tries: Joel Thompson, Josh Papalii
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (2/2)
LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Welcome to Newcastle where we see the Newcastle Knights (5th) play the Canberra Raiders (15th) this Easter Sunday night.
Newcastle are coming off a great win over the Cowboys last Monday night while Canberra also won, beating the Dragons last Sunday night in their hoodoo clash.
TEAM NEWS: Canberra are 1-17 while Newcastle Knights welcome back Kurt Gidley (18) and Willie Mason (19).
David Shillington leads Canberra onto the field.
Newcastle will kick off and run left to right for the first half.
We're underway!
1 min: 40/20 CANBERRA RAIDERS
Josh McCrone kicks a 40/20.
Josh McCrone kicks a 40/20.
2 min: Sandor Earl gets over the line but the pass was called forward.
3 min: Newcastle complete their first set
5 min: Newcastle look promising after an Alex McKinnon line break but the kick is too long and rolls dead.
5 min: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Blake Ferguson knocks on at the halfway mark of the field.
Blake Ferguson knocks on at the halfway mark of the field.
8 min: Gidley is tackled on the last infront of the uprights.
10 min: Mullen's kick sits up in goal and Reece Robinson is forced back in goal. Goal line drop out.
12 min: Darius Boyd kicks quickly but Croker cleans up the ball in goal again. Another goal line drop out to Newcastle.
13 min: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Alex McKinnon drops the ball just metres from the line.
Alex McKinnon drops the ball just metres from the line.
14 min: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Glen Buttriss drops the ball at dummy half.
Glen Buttriss drops the ball at dummy half.
16 min: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Mullen kicks across field to Akuila Uate on the field who scores near the posts. Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Newcastle Knights 6-0
Mullen kicks across field to Akuila Uate on the field who scores near the posts. Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Newcastle Knights 6-0
19 min: PENALTY to Canberra for a hand on the ball. Raiders now inside 30m.
20 min: PENALTY Newcastle. Obstruction is the ruling. Blake Ferguson dives over the line but is deemed to have run behind his own player.
21 min: PENALTY to Newcastle. A hand in the ruck compouds the error. Newcastle now inside the Raider's 20m line.
22 min: VIDEO REFEREE. Possible try in the corner to Anthony Quinn. Looking for an Obstruction.
22 min: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Anthony Quinn after a long cut out pass to his wing. Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley from the sideline is unsuccessful after hitting the right upright.
Newcastle Knights 10-0
Scored by Anthony Quinn after a long cut out pass to his wing. Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley from the sideline is unsuccessful after hitting the right upright.
Newcastle Knights 10-0
25 min: Canberra SCRUM 12m out after Darius Boyd is deemed to have touched the ball, which traveled over the sideline
25 min: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Josh Papalii makes a knock on inches from the try line.
Josh Papalii makes a knock on inches from the try line.
27 min: PENALTY to Canberra. They now have the ball inside Newcastle's half.
28 min: VIDEO REFEREE needed. Possible try to Thompson.
28 min: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Joel Thompson millimeters inside the dead ball line. Very timely for Canberra. Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Newcastle Knights 10-6
Scored by Joel Thompson millimeters inside the dead ball line. Very timely for Canberra. Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Newcastle Knights 10-6
31 min: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Chris Houston knocks on inside his own half. Possession to Canberra with the advantage.
Chris Houston knocks on inside his own half. Possession to Canberra with the advantage.
32 min: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Josh Papalii. He bumps off two defenders to barge his way over. Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Canberra Raiders 12-10
Scored by Josh Papalii. He bumps off two defenders to barge his way over. Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Canberra Raiders 12-10
35 min: PENALTY to Canberra. A bit of ill discipline there from Rochow.
36 min: McCrone kick is kept in play from a freakish flick back in field. Newcastle pick it up and are trapped in goal but the referees call a 20m restart after an inspection of the video.
37 min: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Akuila Uate spills the ball as Newcastle threatened.
Akuila Uate spills the ball as Newcastle threatened.
40 min: Field Goal attempt by Williams shaves the upright, so the score remains 12-10 to Canberra at the break.
40 min: Teams heading back out onto the field. Kick off not too far away.
40 min: And we're back underway. Knights running right to left after the Canberra kick off.
41 min: 40/20 NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Jarrod Mullen kicks a 40/20 as casually as you like.
Jarrod Mullen kicks a 40/20 as casually as you like.
42 min: VIDEO REFEREE. The on field referee has called it a no try after the ball seemed to go forward in the in goal.
42 min: NO TRY. The ball is judged to have brushed the hand of Darius Boyd, but in the field of play (not in goal) thus a change over.
43 min: Kurt Gidley has a concussion and will not return tonight. He did not make it back after half time.
44 min: Canberra trapped in goal after a few brave passes.
46 min: Boyd has to play at a ball that sits up right on the sideline after a good kick from Canberra.
49 min: Tackle count restarts for Newcastle 10m out from the try line.
50 min: Alex McKinnon barges his way over but is held up.
50 min: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Tyrone Roberts. He even manages to convert his own try and put Newcastle four points ahead of Canberra.
Newcastle Knights 16-12
Scored by Tyrone Roberts. He even manages to convert his own try and put Newcastle four points ahead of Canberra.
Newcastle Knights 16-12
52 min: Kick off from Reece Robinson goes out of the full. Newcastle with a PENALTY on half way that puts them back inside the opposition 20.
53 min: Uate manages to latch on to a bullet pass on last tackle, but is tackled and posession changes over.
54 min: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Josh McCrone makes an unforced error. Knock on both ways is judged, but the first infringement was off Canberra.
Josh McCrone makes an unforced error. Knock on both ways is judged, but the first infringement was off Canberra.
56 min: Darius Boyd tries to kick through the Canberra line but Croker cleans up the ball.
58 min: CROWD: 18,689
58 min: Very basic footy at the moment while Newcastle maintain a 4-point lead.
61 min: Newcastle moving up the field. High kick and Sandor Earl catches it easily.
62 min: Reece Robinson in open space but pulled down by his opposite number. Canberra then proceed to knock on after the play the ball
63 min: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Adam Cuthbertson after Newcastle turned defence into attack. Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts goes right over the black dot.
Newcastle Knights 22-12
Scored by Adam Cuthbertson after Newcastle turned defence into attack. Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts goes right over the black dot.
Newcastle Knights 22-12
66 min: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Akuila Uate knocks on a high ball.
Akuila Uate knocks on a high ball.
66 min: PENALTY to Canberra. Jarrod Mullen picks up the ball after the knock on but is in front of Uate.
67 min: VIDEO REFEREE. Possible Try to Joel Thompson, though the on field referee has called it a No Try.
67 min: Original ruling was correct. The ball was lost just before the line and a SCRUM is now being packed.
67 min: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Joel Thompson makes an unforced error.
Joel Thompson makes an unforced error.
68 min: Fensom makes his 50th tackle for the game.
70 min: FALCON. McCrone throws a ball straight into the head of Fensom inside Canberra's 30 and turns over posession.
71 min: Newcastle now throw the ball straight at the cameraman on the sideline and the ball goes dead.
73 min: PENALTY to the Newcastle Knights after the Canberra defenders were called offside. Newcastle start their set on half way.
74 min: Jarrod Croker trapped in goal after a clever kick from Mullen that almost produced a try.
75 min: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Akuila Uate knocks the ball on after a short goal line drop out from Canberra.
Akuila Uate knocks the ball on after a short goal line drop out from Canberra.
76 min: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Shaun Berrigan fails to play the ball correctly. His foot kicks the ball forward and results in a SCRUM for Newcastle 40m out.
Shaun Berrigan fails to play the ball correctly. His foot kicks the ball forward and results in a SCRUM for Newcastle 40m out.
77 min: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Adam Cuthbertson barges over and bags a double for Newcastle in a very memorable game for the young prop - 2 tries for the game, 2 tries for the year. Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts over the black dot yet again.
Newcastle Knights 28-12
Adam Cuthbertson barges over and bags a double for Newcastle in a very memorable game for the young prop - 2 tries for the game, 2 tries for the year. Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts over the black dot yet again.
Newcastle Knights 28-12
80 min: Mullen kicks the ball dead and the crowd count down the final seconds. Newcastle have won the match 28 points to 12 to remain undefeated at home this season.