Raiders destroy pathetic Panthers

The Canberra Raiders have delivered an embarrassing blow to the Panthers finals hopes with a 74-12 drubbing at Canberra Stadium this afternoon in front of a small crowd of 6,500.

The Raiders scored 13 tries in the 62 point romp, and led 38-12 at half time in cold conditions.

It was the Panthers opening the scoring however, with Rhys Wesser setting up Michael Gordon in only the second minute.

It only took four minutes for the Raiders to respond, with Terry Campese benefitting from Wesser failing to tidy up a kick.

The Raiders struck again through Dane Tilse, before the Panthers responded with a fine individual try from Wesser.

The Raiders pushed ahead with a try to Joel Monaghan, and finished the half all over the Panthers, with tries to Thurling, Justin Carney, Campese again and a double for Thurling on the stroke of half time.

The top eight bound Raiders started the second half in the same vein as the first, with David Milne scoring only two minutes after the break.

The Raiders struck 50 after 59 minutes with Thurling getting his hat trick.

The final 15 minutes saw tries to Tongue, a double to Campese -to bring his total to four- and a try to Tom Learoyd-Lahrs to make up the 74 points scored.

Terry Campese now holds the record for the most goals kicked in a game for the Raiders, and the second highest points scorer in a game for the Raiders with 36, only two points behind Mal Meninga - a record set in another 62 point drubbing.

The result skyrockets the Raiders into sixth place, and with their form and upcoming opponents sets them as a lock for the top eight. The Panthers are now precariously placed outside the eight, and with a number of difficult games coming up.

Match Details Canberra Raiders 74 vs Penrith Panthers 12 Round 22 - Sunday August 10th, 2008 2:00pm Venue: Canberra Stadium Referee: Jason Robinson Touch Judges: Dan Eastwood, Peter Kirby Video Referee: Russell Smith Halftime: Raiders 38 Panthers 12 Crowd: 6,500

Canberra Raiders 74 Tries: Terry Campese (4), Dane Tilse, Joel Monaghan, Trevor Thurling (3), Justin Carney, David Milne, Alan Tongue, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs Goals: Terry Campese (10/12), Marc Herbert (1/1)

Penrith Panthers 12 Tries: Michael Gordon, Rhys Wesser Goals: Michael Gordon (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match 3 Points: Terry Campese (Raiders) 2 Points: Trevor Thurling (Raiders) 1 Point: Marc Herbert (Raiders)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
RAIDERS: 1. David Milne, 2. Colin Best, 3. Adrian Purtell, 4. Joel Monaghan, 5. Justin Carney, 6. Terry Campese, 7. Marc Herbert, 8. Troy Thompson, 9. Glen Buttriss, 10. Dane Tilse, 11. Trevor Thurling, 12. Joe Picker, 13. Alan Tongue (c) Interchange: 14. Josh Miller, 15. Marshall Chalk, 16. Ben Jones, 17. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs; Reserves: 18. Neville Costigan, 19. Michael Weyman PANTHERS: 1. Rhys Wesser 2. Brad Tighe 3. Michael Jennings 4. Maurice Blair 5. Michael Gordon 6. Wade Graham 7. Luke Lewis 8. Tony Puletua 9. Luke Priddis 10. Petero Civoniceva (C) 11. Frank Pritchard 12. Trent Waterhouse 13. Nathan Smith Interchange: 14. Matthew Bell 15. Junior Moors 16. Joseph Paulo 17. Masada Iosefa; Reserves: 18. Frank Puletua 19. Adam Woolnough 20. Paul Aiton

Good afternoon from a bitterly cold Canberra Stadium. The sun is currently out, though. Both teams are taking to the field.

1 min: The Panthers kick off!

2 min: TRY Penrith Panthers The Panthers drop the ball backwards, Wesser picks it up and sets up Gordon to score by the posts. Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful. Penrith Panthers 6-0

6 min: TRY Canberra Raiders The Raiders hit straight back. Herbert puts in a grubber, it hits the posts and Wesser is unable to tidy it up allowing Campese to dive on the loose ball to score. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. 6 all

10 min: Wade Graham penalised for a high tackle on David Milne on a kick return.

12 min: Enterprising football from the Panthers puts them on attack, and a kick by Wesser just beats Gordon to the corner post.

13 min: Another penalty gets the Raiders out of their own end.

14 min: VIDEO REF - For a Raiders try...

14 min: TRY Canberra Raiders Tilse pounces on a Campese grubber to score. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 12-6

18 min: Penrith go on attack off a penalty.

19 min: The end of the Panthers set sees a cross field bomb go out on the full, by a large margin.

20 min: TRY Penrith Panthers A brilliant individual try from Rhys Wesser. He picks up an offload, breaks the line from 50 out and steps the fullback beautifully to score under the posts. Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful. 12 all

25 min: Canberra go on attack off yet another penalty.

25 min: TRY Canberra Raiders The Raiders spread the ball wide and Monaghan crosses out wide. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese unsuccessful. Canberra Raiders 16-12

30 min: The Raiders pick up a line drop out off a great Alan Tongue kick.

31 min: TRY Canberra Raiders Campese pops a pass to Thurling who crashes over. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 22-12

33 min: TRY Canberra Raiders The Raiders look set to run up a score. They spin the ball wide, Best breaks the line and it was simply a matter of who would score the try, and it was Justin Carney. Another try from their own end. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese unsuccessful. Canberra Raiders 26-12

36 min: Another penalty will put the Raiders on attack again.

37 min: VIDEO REF - For another Raiders try...

37 min: TRY Canberra Raiders Campese claims a double running through a gap. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 32-12

40 min: TRY Canberra Raiders It's one way traffic, after a Penrith mistake Canberra go 60 metres in three plays, and as the siren sounds Thurling crashes over out wide. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 38-12

Halftime, and the Raiders are all but home in this game.

40 min: Back underway at Canberra Stadium

42 min: One of those days, a Raiders kick pulls up inches inside the in goal and the Raiders will get the ball back.

42 min: TRY Canberra Raiders What a mess, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs busts the line and offloads to Milne who scores next to the posts. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 44-12

50 min: Best bombs a try not passing to Campese, but the Raiders remain on attack.

55 min: The Panthers are getting more possession, but are unable to complete.

58 min: Penrith give away a penalty on the last tackle with the Raiders hot on attack.

59 min: TRY Canberra Raiders Thurling strolls over for a hattrick. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 50-12

64 min: Joel Monaghan drops the ball with a potential try begging

66 min: TRY Canberra Raiders Campese claims his hat trick, summing up Penriths day, brushing off two pathetic tackle attempts to score. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 56-12

73 min: TRY Canberra Raiders The Raiders hit 60, Herbert breaks out of his own end and finds Thurling who is going to be dragged down short, so he throws a wild pass to Tongue who toes the ball ahead and dives on it to score under the posts. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 62-12

76 min: TRY Canberra Raiders They're in again. Campese throws a great pass to Milne, and then backs up the break to score under the posts. Conversion attempt by Terry Campese successful. Canberra Raiders 68-12

80 min: TRY Canberra Raiders Tongue puts Learoyd-Lahrs through a huge gap to score. Conversion attempt by Marc Herbert successful. Canberra Raiders 74-12