Raiders keep Finals Hopes Alive

Raiders take a big psychological victory against the Bulldogs 28 - 14 in front of a weak 10,116 ANZ Stadium crowd. Canberra for the second week keep their opponent scoreless in the second half to prove they can finish strongly and keep their slim finals hopes alive.

The first half was a bit of a dogfight, with teams appearing quite evenly matched. First points of the match came in the third minute, a great individual effort from Dugan getting through would be Canterbury defenders gave Canberra a try which was converted.

Video Referee Russell Smith had his work cut out for him, being looked up to several times in the first half; his first decision denied the Raiders a try in the seventh minute. Just two minutes later he was called up again.

Bulldogs were awarded a benefit of the doubt try in the ninth minute. Impossible to tell whether Ryan got the ball down behind the line, but benefit of the doubt came into play to put Bulldogs on the board, Goodwin failed to convert.

A couple of video referee decisions later, Smith awarded Bulldogs another, this one a much easier decision, giving Goodwin a try in the 16th minute, he again failed to convert, leaving the game evenly poised at that point.

Bulldogs took a firmer lead in the 27th minute with a try to Tia-Kilifi, who was put in the corner by debutant Daniel Rauicava. IT was the most difficult shot at goal of the night, but it was the only one Goodwin managed to convert.

Raiders got some possession in the last few minutes and converted it into points on the stroke of halftime. Captain Alan Tongue scored off a beautiful angled grubber from Campese, easy conversion for Croker and Raiders went into half time with only a 2 point deficit.

Raiders started the second half with real intention. This was converted to points in the 48th minute, with a 90 metre try to Croker. He failed to convert his own try, but Raiders ran away with momentum from there.

The Dogs did not look to be causing much more trouble to the Raiders, but they did cause trouble to themselves, with Shillington knocking out his own teammate in Travis Waddell, who came off the field as a result to take no further part in the match.

Raiders with all the momentum delivered points in the 62nd minute to Daniel Vidot off a 5th tackle play and again in the 65th minute to McCrone who ran 50 metres to put down his 4 pointer. Croker converted both tries giving the Raiders a 28 - 14 lead which they defended til the game's close.

Match Details
Canterbury Bulldogs 14 were defeated by Canberra Raiders 28
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 23 - Saturday August 14, 2010 7:30pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Brett Suttor
Video Referee: Russell Smith
Touch Judges: Daniel Eastwood and Adam Gee
Crowd: 10,116
Halftime: Canterbury Bulldogs 14 Canberra Raiders 12

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Terry Campese
2 Points - David Shillington
1 Point - Josh Dugan (1 Try)

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (14)
Tries: Andrew Ryan, Bryson Goodwin, Junior Tia-Kilifi
Conversions: Bryson Goodwin (1/3)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (28)
Tries: Alan Tongue, Josh Dugan, Jarrod Croker, Daniel Vidot, Josh McCrone
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (4/5)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Hello an welcome to ANZ Stadium for this Round 23 Clash between the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and the Canberra Raiders. Canberra fighting with a very slim chance of earning a finals spot. In the NYC this evening, Bulldogs steamrolled the Raiders 60 - 18.
Team news - Shaun Fensom is out for the Raiders, he will be replaced by Joe Picker who will start the game with Danny Galea moved to the bench. For the Bulldogs, Luke Patten is out, so Steve Turner moves to fullback with Junior Tia Kilifi coming in at the wing, Ben Barba is out and will be replaced by Blake Green.
1 min: Canberra kick off from the Northern end and we are under way.
2 min: PENALTY to Canberra, for Josh Morris tackling Vidot in the air. Nice opportunity for the Raiders
4 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders. Great individual effort from Josh Dugan, dummies, spins off Kimmorley, and in between Turner and Ennis. Conversion by Jarrod Croker successful.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
5 min: Another penalty to the Raiders and another shot at the Bulldogs line early. Ennis held on too long in the tackle, a bit of ill discipline from the dogs in defence.
Video Referee for a possible Canberra try
7 min: No try, Joel Monaghan deemed to have lost the ball forward, failed to ground it.
8 min: First penalty of the game to the Bulldogs. Thurling ruled to have held on too long
Video Referee for a possible Bulldogs try.
10 min: TRY
Benefit of the doubt TRY to the Bulldogs. Impossible to tell whether Ryan got the ball down, but given by video referee Russell Smith. Conversion by Bryson Goodwin unsuccessful.
Canberra Raiders 6-4
11 min: 40/20 by Ben Roberts, Vidot caught out at the back, great kick from Roberts. Dogs in terrific attacking position.
Video Referee for a possible Bulldogs try.
12 min: NO TRY. Ryan ruled to have made a double movement, so Canberra get a penalty.
13 min: Another penalty to the Raiders, Bulldogs holding on too long in the tackle, so opportunity for the Raiders.
15 min: PENALTY to the Bulldogs - a bit of ill discipline early in this one. This penalty against Shillington for beng third man in.
Video Referee for a possible Bulldogs try
17 min: TRY
TRY to the Bulldogs. Lovely angled grubber from Ben Roberts to Bryson Goodwin who scores within centimetres of the dead ball line. Vidot a bit lazy getting to the ball there, but beautiful try from Goodwin who again fails to convert.
Canterbury Bulldogs 8-6
19 min: PENALTY against Canberra for offside, another opportunity for the Dogs.
Video Referee for a possible Bulldogs try.
20 min: Canberra looked to be really caught short there, but a ball went forward in the play, Raiders get the scrum. Looks as though Russell Smith ruled on a forward pass there, perhaps ruled as a knock on though.
23 min: Some good play from both teams, looks like a solid contest now that we have a break from penalties.
25 min: Dropped ball from Monaghan gives Bulldogs a chance to attack.
28 min: TRY
TRY to the Bulldogs. Good lead up play. Ennis takes it out of dummy half, passes to Kimmorley, passes out back to Turner who creates overlap and debutant Rauicava puts Tia Kilifi in the corner. Bryson Goodwin converts his most difficult attempt of the night.
Canterbury Bulldogs 14-6
31 min: PENALTY to the Bulldogs, Raiders offside, great attacking opportunity for the dogs in Canberra's half.
32 min: Mickey Paea knocks on to take the pressure off the Raiders.
34 min: Vidot intercepts a Ryan flick pass, but a beautiful tackle from Roberts prevents him from streaking down for a try.
36 min: Tia-Kilifi ruled to have knocked on to give Raiders a line dropout.
38 min: Halatau chased out the dead ball line and Canberra get another line drop out.
40 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders. Beautiful angled grubber from Campese, left to right, Tongue dives on it and scores near the posts. Conversion by Croker successful.
Canterbury Bulldogs 14-12
40 min: And that's the half.
41 min: Bulldogs kick of the second half to give Canberra the first touch of the second forty.
42 min: Raiders start the second half with enthusiasm and intention, this game looks like a contest again.
44 min: PENALTY to the Bulldogs for a little leg pull from Waddell.
45 min: Kimmorley gets knocked out cold by Dugan, on the ground for a while. Now he's up, wants to continue, but the trainer won't let him, should be replaced by Green here.
46 min: trrrible pass spoils a great chance for the Raiders.
48 min: TRY
Turner fails to catch a Roberts bomb. pounced on by Croker who makes a huge run to score a 90 metre try. Croker fails to convert his own try.
Canberra Raiders 16-14
50 min: PENALTY against Learoyd-Lahrs in possession, for his play the ball. Bit of a tough call there...
51 min: Tandy knocks it on for Dogs, Canberra let off the hook.
54 min: PENALTY to the Raiders for a strip from Goodwin with two in the tackle, chance for the Raiders.
57 min: Waddell looks unwell, knocked out by his own teammate in Shillington. Looks like a shoulder injury to Waddell.
59 min: Ryan ruled to have knocked on, giving Canberra a scrum in the Bulldogs half.
62 min: TRY
TRY to the Raiders. Canberra run the ball on the last play, McCrone cut out pass to Mogg who with rapid fire passes it on to Vidot who streaks down the short side to score. Conversion by Croker successful.
Canberra Raiders 22-14
67 min: TRY
Campese pounces on a loose offload from Tandy, passes it to McCrone, who streaks 50 metres to score. Conversion by Croker successful.
Canberra Raiders 28-14
70 min: Been a great half from the Raiders so far, who look to have learnt how to play second halves at the right end of the season. Bulldogs not attacking badly, but Canberra defending stoutly.
73 min: Dogs momentum is all but lost at this point, the game looks far out of reach for them now.
77 min: A few errors each way and the game appears to be slowing down as we head toward full time.
80 min: And the game gets slowed down to nothing, both teams refusing to pack a scrum and allowing the fulltime hooter to blow.
80 min: Canberra take the game 28 - 14 to keep their slim finals hopes alive.