Knights take down Raiders at Ausgrid

The Canberra Raiders travelled to Newcastle to be met by inhospitable hosts who handed them a mauling in front of a crowd of 14,109 who witnessed the Knights claim the 40-8 victory.

The Raiders opened the scoring early, but McCrone's four pointer in the 5th minute was all the scoring that was to come out of the Raiders in the first forty.

Newcastle centre Adam MacDougall claimed the half for himself scoring 2 tries and making two line breaks which included a try assist. The MadDog scored Newcastle's first try of the game in the 15th minute, set up their second to Uate in the 20th and scored the third in the 31st.

After missing the conversion of the third try, Gidley made up for lost points by setting up a try to Matt Hilder in the 37th minute.  Gidley finished the half with a 75% conversion rate taking Newcastle into the interval ahead 22 points to 4.

Newcastle claimed the second half early and from there were always going to claim a big victory.  The home side added three more tries in the second 40, one a piece to McManus, Houston and Uate in the 47th, 53rd and 60th minutes respectively.  Gidley converted 2 out of 3 of the tries.

Raiders added one last try in the 70th minute to Joel Thompson in the corner to mirror the 4 points they added to the scoreboard in the first half. The final points of the game came after the hooter sounded when Canberra gave away a penalty which Newcastle used to help captain Gidley maintain his 75% goal kicking rate and rack up forty points for a Newcastle 40-8 victory.

Match Details
Newcastle Knights 40 defeated Canberra Raiders 8
National Rugby League - Round 22 (Close the Gap Round) - Sunday August 7, 2011 2:00pm
Venue: Ausgrid Stadium
Referee: Brett Suttor and Steve Lyons
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Luke Phillips
Crowd: 14,109
Halftime: Newcastle Knights 22 Canberra Raiders 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Chris Houston (2 Tries)
2 Points - Jarrod Mullen
1 Point - Adam MacDougall (1 Try)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (40)
Tries: James McManus, Chris Houston (2), Matt Hilder, Adam MacDougall, Akuila Uate (2)
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (4/6)
Penalty Goals: Kurt Gidley (1/1)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (8)
Tries: Joel Thompson, Josh McCrone
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (0/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Afternoon and welcome to a wet Ausgrid Stadium for League Unlimited's coverage of the Round 22 clash between the Newcastle Knights and the Canberra Raiders. Newcastle are looking to cement a spot i the top 8, whlst Canberra are still fighting to hold on to very slip hopes of a top 8 berth.
The Toyota Cup curtain raiser saw the Newcaslte under 20s side defeat the Canberra side 24 points to 8.
TEAM NEWS: For the Knights Ciraldo will start at lock with Edwards dropping to the bench, Fa'aoso drops from the bench and Lulia will play. Dugan will play for the Raiders, but Harrison is out and Galea will replace him in the second row. Tongue will start the game from the bench with Buttriss in starting hooker and Picker comes onto the bench.
1 min: Dugan kicks off to give Newcastle first use of the football.
3 min: Newcastle dominating field position early, making bug yards with ball in hand and keeping Raiders pinged inside their own territory.
4 min: Kurt Gidley turns the ball over on the last tackle.
4 min: A good set from the Raiders and Croker puts a short kick in which is dropped by Uate giving Canberra an excellent opportunity to attack.
6 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders! A defensive lapse from the Knights and McCrone is in to score. Conversion attempt from Croker unsuccessful.
Canberra Raiders 4-0
7 min: PENALTY to the Raiders against Tuimavave for holding down in the play the ball.
8 min: Back to back PENALTIES to the Raiders, this against Costigan for stealing the ball.
9 min: Vidot makes an error early in the tackle count, to give the Knights a scrum feed 20 out from their own line.
11 min: The game has slowed down in the last couple of minutes with both sides completing a set each.
12 min: MacDougall bombs an attacking opportunity for the Knights.
12 min: Raiders making good metres now, but give Newcastle a free passage to their 20 metre line with a ball that goes rolling touch in goal.
13 min: PENALTY to the Knights 40 metres out from the Raiders' line, this against Galea for holding down.
16 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights! MacDougall scores right on the right sideline. Kurt Gidley nails a difficult conversion.
Newcastle Knights 6-4
19 min: Knights starting to take this game by the scruff of the neck now.
21 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights! A strong run from MacDougall puts Akuila Uate in to cross for his 12th try of the season. Conversion attempt from Kurt Gidley successful.
Newcastle Knights 12-4
21 min: Stig turns the ball over just short of halfway.
24 min: Jarrod Croker returns the favour gifting Newcastle the ball with an error.
26 min: Raiders starting to stage a fight back, let's see if they can play their way back into this game.
27 min: Hilder loses it on the first tackle to help Canberra to some great field position.
28 min: PENALTY to the Knights against Miller for being inside the ten.
29 min: Costigan turns the ball over near halfway.
27 min: Hilder loses it on the first tackle to help Canberra to some great field position.
30 min: Dugan makes an error to halt the Raiders' progress.
34 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights! Chris Houston with a strong run puts MacDougall in for his second of the afternoon. Conversion attempt from Gidley unsuccessful.
Newcastle Knights 16-4
36 min: Raiders starting to slip away on the way to half time.
39 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights! Kurt Gidley puts Matt Hilder in to score between the uprights. Gidley converts.
Newcastle Knights 22-4
40 min: Raiders are given a reprieve by the half time hooter. Knights lead 22-4 at half time.
41 min: Time back on and the second half is under way.
42 min: A hilarious sequence of play sees Costigan bomb what would have been a remarkable try. A Dugan kick hits Costigan in the shoulder, Costigan chases it and takes it to the try line, but it pops out of his grasp as he goes to score and Raiders reclaim the ball.
45 min: PENALTY to the Knights against Galea for holding down in the play the ball.
48 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights! Pin point accurate kick from Gidley finds McManus to score in the corner. Gidley misses a difficult conversion.
Newcastle Knights 28-4
50 min: Knights continuing where they left off in the first half really dominating this Canberra side.
54 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights! Mullen finds Houston who runs straight and hard to score near the posts. Gidley converts.
Newcastle Knights 32-4
55 min: PENALTY to the Raiders against Costigan for hanging on too long in the tackle.
57 min: Jarrod Mullen nails a monster 40/20 from his 30 metre line.
59 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Newcastle TRY.
61 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights! Another perfectly placed kick from Mullen, this a cross field kick for Uate, who finds his way to the line. Conversion attempt successful from Gidley.
Newcastle Knights 38-4
62 min: Houston finds some space and a big line break, but Mullen cannot hold onto the football.
62 min: Dugan is put on report for kicking Hilder in the head, it didn't look deliberate, but Hilder has collected a nasty gash on the face and Dugan has been put on report.
64 min: PENALTY to the Raiders against Costigan for holding down in the tackle.
65 min: Raiders earn a repeat set helping them into some real attacking territory after a chip is played at by Knights players before Fensom regathers it.
66 min: A desperate last tackle attempt in the right corner won't be let through, with Newcastle defence refusing to give in.
69 min: Joel Edwards throws an intercept pass just short of the halfway line.
71 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Canberra TRY.
72 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders! Thompson breaks through the Newcastle defence and is met by more tacklers at the line but muscles through them to score. Conversion attempt just hooks to the right of the posts.
Newcastle Knights 38-8
75 min: Croker turns the ball over on the first tackle, and this could be the invitation Newcastle needed to pass 40 points.
78 min: Tongue gives it away early in the tackle count to give Newcastle great field position.
80 min: Brett White turns the ball over early in the tackle count to give Newcastle one last shot at the Canberra line.
80 min: PENALTY to the Knights against Picker in the final second the match to the Knight and they will take the 2 to rack up 40 games in this match.
80 min: PENALTY GOAL
Gidley from right in front gives Newcastle the big 40.
Newcastle Knights 40-8