Raiders hold off stop start Eels

Canberra have held off a patchy Parramatta team to win a tryfest 40 points to 34 in front of 9,210 fans at Canberra Stadium.

After the week from hell, Parramatta were looking to change their fortunes on-field, starting with a bang.

They had two early chances which narrowly went awry but Ryan Morgan latched onto a Paulo grubber to give Parramatta the start they needed.

The problem for the Eels is though, they only play in spurts and once the clock ticked past twenty minutes, they lost steam. Back to back penalties gave Canberra the field position and Jarrod Croker delivered the touch, with a flick pass to send Reece Robinson in for his first.

That started an avalanche for the Raiders. First Joel Thompson pounced on a Sio error from a bomb to touchdown in the 25th minute then Blake Ferguson defused a bomb to streak away and hang the heads of the Eels.

Josh Dugan then showed why he wants to be Origin fullback, out jumping fellow rival for the spot Jarryd Hayne and setting the scene for Josh Papalii to slam the ball down.

Parramatta started brightly but burnt out with Canberra rolling over them in the last twenty before halftime to lead 24-6.

Much like the first half, Parramatta were the first to strike and it was a double blow with Cheyse Blair and Ken Sio both walking tries in after beautiful balls from Jarryd Hayne. In the blink of an eye, it was 24-18 after two Burt sideline conversions and it was game on.

Canberra though quelled the resistance with Joel Thompson and Reece Robinson completing their doubles. The latter try coming from Josh Dugan slicing through some insipid Eels defense and once again the lead was 18.

To their credit, Parramatta didn't give up the fight, getting themselves back into the contest after the horse has bolted much like against Wests. Ken Sio and Ryan Morgan made it braces with Jarryd Hayne going anything Dugan can do, I can do better.

Unfortunately Luke Burt missed a conversion, leaving Parramatta with quite a bit to do although they weren't giving up the ghost. Chris Sandow started and finished a movement which saw a wicked bounce and Jarryd Hayne flicking it out for the halfback to make it 36-34.

Momentum was with Parramatta and they were coming for their second win of the 2012 campaign but a knock on 40 metres out halted their momentum. From the scrum, Jack Wighton hit a hole and streaked away to seal a much needed 40-34 win for Canberra.

Match Details
Canberra Raiders 40 defeated Parramatta Eels 34
National Rugby League - Round 10 - Sunday May 13, 2012 2:00pm
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Referee: Gavin Badger and Adam Devcich
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Jason Walsh and Luke Potter
Crowd: 9,210
Halftime: Canberra Raiders 24 Parramatta Eels 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Josh Dugan
2 Points - Jarryd Hayne
1 Point - Jarrod Croker (6 Conversions)

Canberra Raiders (40)
Tries: Reece Robinson (2), Joel Thompson (2), Blake Ferguson, Josh Papalii, Jack Wighton
Field Goals: Sam Williams (0/1)
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (6/7)

Parramatta Eels (34)
Tries: Chris Sandow, Cheyse Blair, Ryan Morgan (2), Ken Sio (2)
Conversions: Luke Burt (5/6)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to a chilly Canberra Stadium, for this afternoon's Mothers Day clash between Canberra and Parramatta. Both sides have been disappointing this season with the woes at Parramatta well documented but things aren't too flash in the Nation's capital either.
Earlier in the Toyota Cup, Canberra and Parramatta combined to score 92 points, the second most in U20s history. Canberra ran out winners 62 points to 30.
TEAM CHANGES:

Canberra: One change, Bronson Harrison in 18 is in for Sam Mataora.

Parramatta: 1-17.
1 min: Both teams have made their way onto the field. Raiders kick off and Parramatta are running left to right.
4 min: Shillington and Fensom try to play the short passing game close to the defensive line and it's spilled.
4 min: Good defense from the Raiders forces Hayne to kick early but he earns his side another set.
6 min: A good offload from Paulo gets Parramatta in a good position but the quick hands only goes to the camera man as no one was outside Morgan.
7 min: McCrone was on the whirly bird and offloaded to Wighton who drops it cold.
9 min: TRY
Morgan makes up for his earlier error with this try! Joesph Paulo provides the unlikely assist with the stabbing grubber for Morgan to run onto. Burt converts and amazingly Parramatta hasn't missed a conversion since round 2!
Parramatta Eels 6-0
10 min: Parramatta are on the march, David Shillington gives away a silly penalty to piggyback the Eels.
12 min: It took twelve minutes but Canberra have completed a set, started off with a dynamic run from Josh Dugan, beating several defenders.
14 min: Chris Sandow lands the kick on a dime, it rolls and rolls but refuses to go dead for Ferguson, he's forced to play at it before the defense converges. Dropout.
15 min: Parramatta on the attack, looking sharp but their set has been curtailed by an error.
18 min: Mannah was being called out of the play all the time there and persisted. Penalty, offside.
21 min: TRY
Back to back penalties gives Canberra back to back sets. They try the shift right but it is shutdown. They shift it left with a bounce pass which is given to Croker who flicks a beautiful pass to Robinson to stroll in. Croker converts from out wide.
6 all
22 min: Fui Fui is the fourth man in a tackle and lifts a Canberra player off the ground, that'll always be a penalty and it's called as such.
25 min: TRY
The momentum has swung here! Canberra mow down field and on last McCrone kicks for his winger and Sio spills it right into the hands of Joel Thompson, a simple try. Same spot, same result albeit with some help from the post there.
Canberra Raiders 12-6
33 min: TRY
Parramatta throwing it around on last leaving McGuire to put it high and up goes Ferguson. He beats one, two and is away! Shut the gates despite the gallant chase by Hindmarsh. Croker continues his perfect record thus far.
Canberra Raiders 18-6
36 min: TRY
It's the Raiders turn to put the ball high and it's a contest between the two fullbacks. Hayne comes down with it or does he! Dugan with the steal and here come the Raiders again. It's simple for Papalii to crash through the defense. Another successful conversion from Croker.
Canberra Raiders 24-6
37 min: More possession for the Raiders will the Eels crack again?
VIDEO REFEREE: Checking if Canberra has scored again.
38 min: NO TRY! Knock on by Dugan, Eels survive.. just.
40 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
Why not? Twenty seconds left and Sam Williams has a pot at field goal, he misses and that is HALFTIME.
Canberra Raiders 24-6
41 min: We're back for the second stanza. Parramatta will kick-off.
41 min: Fortuitous penalty for Fensom, he attempts an offload but it's stripped by Hindmarsh. Penalty. Raiders back on the attack.
43 min: That is the Jarryd Hayne, Parramatta need to see more often. He struggles in the tackle, making ten plus metres plus a penalty.
46 min: There we go! Another good charge from the Eels this time from Poore. Earns another penalty, question is, can the Eels convert?
47 min: Not a happy afternoon for Ken Sio, he lost it in a good attacking position.
50 min: The Green Machine is starting to click, the offloads are sticking but on last, Dugan knocks on from a planned kick.
51 min: Almost there! Learoyd-Lars shows some passing skills and Berrigan sends Wighton down the touchline but he has stepped into touch.
54 min: Bad news for Raiders second rower Josh Papalii, he's been taken off with a suspected broken arm.
54 min: Relieving penalty for the Eels.
56 min: Parramatta earn a repeat set although it was lucky. Burt stabs a kick through which has to be tapped dead. Dropout.
58 min: TRY
Parramatta finally have some points in this second half. They have tried this overlap play about four times and it came off for them finally Blair scores it. Burt from the sideline, doesn't miss.
Canberra Raiders 24-12
59 min: Silly. Hindmarsh was held, no need to pull the leg. Penalty.
60 min: Heady move by Hayne, he realises nothing is on, so rolls it in and Sandow traps Dugan for the dropout.
63 min: TRY
Parramatta gets some movement going. Hayne the instigator, throwing the long ball to Sio who strolls in whilst the Raiders are stuck like statues calling for a forward pass which won't be called. Burt has the chance to bring it to a six point difference and does.
Canberra Raiders 24-18
67 min: TRY
Joel Thompson has a double! On last, it's put high again for the contest between the fullbacks, Dugan bats it back for Thompson to just touch down and maybe quell the rebellion from Parramatta. Croker from a relatively easy position, continues the perfect afternoon for kickers.
Canberra Raiders 30-18
70 min: TRY
Thank you Mr Dugan says Mr Robinson. Josh Dugan just slid through the Eels defense like a knife through butter and throws a huge cut-out for Reece Robinson to definitely kill the comeback. Croker makes no mistake again.
Canberra Raiders 36-18
70 min: Nothing left to lose and Parramatta try the short kick off but it falls to Croker.
72 min: Parramatta benefit from a call saying Blake Ferguson has touched a Chris Sandow pass.
VIDEO REFEREE: Checking if Ryan Morgan might have scored here.
73 min: TRY
TRY! Parramatta when they actually attack, look pretty good with Morgan finishing off this effort with style. Burt with the chance to make it 12 the difference, misses his first for the afternoon.
Canberra Raiders 36-22
75 min: Parramatta looking like they did in the start of the game, moving in motion which set Cheyse Blair into the gap after a juggle. He puts a kick through for Sio but Robinson is there to cover. Dropout.
VIDEO REFEREE: Again, we're going upstairs.. checking a Ken Sio try.
76 min: TRY
Well Parramatta have decided to come and play again. Jarryd Hayne chiming in the backline sends Sio away for a try. Burt converts.
Canberra Raiders 36-28
VIDEO REFEREE: For the third time in a short period of time we're going upstairs.
77 min: TRY
Started and finished by Chris Sandow. He chips a kick into space which bounces wickedly and to Hayne who is held.. NO he tosses it back to Sandow who scores! No mucking around, Burt converts.
Canberra Raiders 36-34
78 min: Here come Parramatta.. they are streaming downfield but it's knocked on! Raiders ball.
80 min: TRY
Off the scrum, one pass and Wighton hits the hole and he's out the otherside! No one will foot it with him and Parramatta once again comes so close but yet so far. Croker with the conversion misses his first for the afternoon.
Canberra Raiders 40-34