Raiders
outclass depleted Sharks

The Canberra Raiders have beat the cold and defeated a rudderless Cronulla Sharks 26-16 at a chilly Canberra Stadium tonight.

Going into the match without key players Brett Kimmorley and David Peachey, the Sharks played without direction as Canberra took control of the first half scoring three tries to nil.

But despite naming a strong side, the Raiders themselves were suddenly down on personnel when utility player Jason Croker injured his groin during the warm up, and forward Michael Hodgson was forced off with a rib cartilage injury after just seven minutes.

With tries to Joel Monaghan [pictured], Matthew Gafa and Michael Robertson, the Raiders went into the break holding a handy 16-0 lead.

The Sharks started the second half impressively with a try to stand-in half back Michael Sullivan. But any chance of a comeback was soon put to rest with the Raiders laying on 10 points in 10 minutes which included a runaway try to fullback Clinton Schifcofske.

The Sharks scored two more tries winning the second half 16-10. But they were fortunate not to have been on the receiving end of a thrashing, with the Raiders unable to convert a number of opportunities.

RAIDERS 26 Tries: Monaghan, Gafa, Robertson, Mogg, Schifcofske Goals: Gafa 3/5 defeated SHARKS 16 Tries: Sullivan, Aitken, Hilder Goals: Hilder 2/4

Canberra Stadium Referee: Jason Robinson Video Referee: Graeme West Touch Judges: Steve Carrall, Jason Weinstein

By the clock: 0 min: Chilly evening in Canberra as the Raiders are set to take on an understrengthed Sharks outfit, who are without skipper Brett Kimmorley. Danny Nutley is the Sharks' captain.

NEWS - Jason Croker (Raiders) has injured his groin in warm up and is a late withdrawal. Kickoff..!

3 min: NEWS - solid start from Raiders who trap Sharks in their own in-goal and get a repeat set.

7 min: NEWS - Raiders on the attack again following a big break from Michael Robertson. The Sharks are able to recover and then get a relieving penalty. INJURY - Michael Hodgson (Raiders) forced off with injury.

9 min: NEWS - missed penalty goal attempt from Matt Hilder (Sharks) follows penalty to Sharks in fairly easy range and right in front.

11 min: NO TRY - Raiders denied when last pass to Joel Monaghan is ruled forward by the ref.

15 min: NEWS - back to back penalties to the Raiders after Phil Bailey (Sharks) is penalised 10 metres for back-chatting the referee.

17 min: NO TRY - Raiders denied. Ruben Wiki looks to have scored but Monaghan's 'bat back' is ruled to have gone forward.

18 min: TRY - Raiders. Joel Monaghan [match picture] scores 5 metres in from touch after Raiders get possession courtesy of a Phil Bailey handling error. Conversion from Matthew Gafa is spot on. Raiders 6-0

21 min: TRY - Raiders. Matt Gafa scores under the posts after Mark McLinden does a simple run-around. Conversion Gafa is OK. Raiders 12-0

28 min: NEWS - Sharks come within a whisker of scoring when Ryan McGoldrick chases a grubber, but the Raiders hold their line with Clinton Schifcofske getting there first. Possession: Raiders 51%

31 min: TRY - Raiders. Michael Robertson scores out wide after Adam Mogg makes a tremendous bust down field. Conversion attempt from Gafa is not even close. Raiders 16-0

38 min: NEWS - Raiders on top as the Sharks are losing their way. Possession still slightly favouring the home side 51%.

HALF TIME: Raiders in charge at 16-0 and controlling the match just wide of the ruck as well finding space down the flanks. The Sharks are missing Kimmorley and David Peachey and having trouble completing their movements. Thus far, the Sharks have spent 64% of the match in their own half. INJURY NEWS - Michael Hodgson (Raiders) has been diagnosed with a rib cartilage injury and will take no further part.

Second half underway...

44 min: TRY - Sharks. Michael Sullivan scores out wide on the back of a solid opening to the second half. Conversion from Hilder is a beauty. Raiders 16-6

47 min: NO TRY - Raiders denied after Ian Hindmarsh is ruled by the ref to have been held up under the crossbar. The replay shows what looks like a fair grounding. Follows a tremendous run where Hindmarsh went straight over the top of Nutley. Hindmarsh is then held again in the next ruck.

48 min: TRY - Raiders. Adam Mogg scores 10m in from touch. Conversion attempt from Gafa misses. Raiders 20-6

54 min: TRY - Raiders. Clinton Schifcofske runs 70 metres after pouncing on a Sullivan chip kick. Gafa adds the extras from right in front. Raiders 26-6

59 min: NEWS - Clinton Schifcofske makes another break getting through some soft defence and runs 50m before delivering a forward to pass to Mark McLinden who would have scored.

62 min: TRY - Sharks. Russell Aitken in just his third game of NRL footy scores a confident looking try next to the posts. Conversion Hilder. Raiders 26-12

NEWS - Possession now favouring Sharks 54%

64 min: NO TRY - Raiders denied. Monaghan held up over the line.

74 min: Still 26-12 to the Raiders. Both sides come close to scoring and both sides starting to make a couple of errors.

79 min: TRY - Sharks. Hilder scores out wide after getting repeat sets at the Raiders line. Conversion Hilder is wide. Raiders 26-16

FULL TIME: A scrappy win to the Raiders who should have crossed for several more tries, the scoreline flattering the Sharks. The Sharks with plenty of possession but incapable of gaining any real momentum as the Raiders defended tremendously. Possession: Sharks 53% Tackles: Raiders 338-246 Mistackles: Sharks 35-22 Penalties: Raiders 8-7 Score: Raiders 26-16

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - C Schifcofske (Raiders) 2 - R O'Hara (Raiders) 1 - I Hindmarsh (Raiders) -----------------------------------------