Raiders snatch victory
in extra time

Round 4
Canberra Raiders 21 v Penrith Panthers 20
Match Summary:
Canberra Raiders fullback and skipper Clinton Schifcofske has potted an 87th minute field goal to sink the Penrith Panthers by 21-20 at Canberra Stadium tonight.

Minutes earlier and on the stroke of full time, centre David Howell scored out wide. Schifcofske kept Canberra in the match by successfully converting Howell's try to lock the scores up at 20-all and sending the match into Golden Point extra time.

Following an attempt at field goal from Raiders hooker Simon Woolford and then two shots from Panthers half back Craig Gower, Schifcofske chanced his boot. After one unsuccessful attempt, Schifcofske kicked the winning point from 25 metres out.

For the Panthers, it was their second golden point game of 2006 when in round two they defeated the Dragons thanks to the boot of five-eighth Preston Campell.

Played in chilly conditions, the Raiders struck first with a try in the 10th minute before the Panthers hit back 10 minutes later. Both sides continued to swap four-pointers and at half time it was two tries each with the Raiders holding a slender 10-8 lead.

Canberra went further ahead in the second half when winger Adam Mogg got his second try. But the Panthers were not be outdone with forward Frank Pritchard running wide and crashing over to level up the scores again.

Panthers fullback Rhys Wesser put the visitors in the box seat following a 60 metre movement and tremendous display of attacking football, Gower handling the ball three times with Luke Priddis backing up to deliver the final pass to a flying Wesser.

At 20-14 and with time running out, it looked like the Panthers were ready to go on with it.

But a try in the final minute to Howell, and Schifcofske's conversion, turned the tables with the home side ultimately coming out on top.

Scorers:
Canberra Raiders: 21
Tries: Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, David Howell, Adam Mogg(2)
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 2/4
Field Goals: Clinton Shifcofske
Penrith Panthers: 20
Tries: Luke Lewis, Frank Pritchard, Rhys Wesser, Lee Hookey
Goals: Preston Campbell 2/5

Canberra Stadium
Referee: Gavin Badger

By the Clock:
Players on the field. A small crowd on hand of approxinately 7,000. Chilly night in Canberra, Raiders will have a slight breeze behind them in the first half.
Kick off!

10 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Centre Adam Mogg scores in the corner for the Raiders, Jason Smith and Lincoln Withers creating the opportunity. Clinton Schifcofske unsuccessful with the conversion attempt.
Raiders 4-0

20 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
Lee Hookey scores out wide for Penrith. Preston Campbell unable to add the extras.
4 all.

24 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs steamrolls his way through to score for Canberra. Conversion successful.
Raiders 10-4

30 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
Luke Lewis scores out wide for the Panthers. Campbell unable to convert.
Raiders 10-8

Half time: Raiders 10-8
A tightly fought match and too close to call.

41 min: NEWS Second half underway with Panthers kicking off. Raiders have a horror start allowing the ball to go dead and forcing a line drop out. Panthers on the attack but they lose the ball and Raiders are off the hook.

44 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Mogg gets a double racing 25m downfield. Set up by Craig Frawley who delivered a beaut offload.
Sideline conversion unsuccessful.
Raiders 14-8

56 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
Pritchard scores out wide following sustained pressure, big Frank Pritchard on the burst and near impossible to stop.
Conversion from Campbell is a ripper.
14 all.

59 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
Rhys Wesser scores after Craig Gower takes off up the middle of the park, finds Luke Priddis in support who gives it to Wesser.
Campbell adds the extras.
Panthers 20-14

65 min: NEWS Panthers winger Luke Rooney NO TRY after being held up. Raiders right side defence looks suspect.

68 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Penrith Panthers
Long range field goal from (over 40 metres out) from Campbell unsuccessful.
Panthers 20-14

71 min: NEWS Forward Shane Rodney (Panthers) comes off with concussion.

73 min: ATTEMPTED PENALTY GOAL Penrith Panthers
Campbell unsuccessful with penalty goal attempt, 15m in from touch and 25m out.
Panthers 20-14

80 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Howell scores out wide. Pressure kick from Clinton Schifcofske to lock it up at 20-all and it leaves the boot perfectly. Siren sounding in the background, we're going into golden point time.
20 all.

82 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Canberra Raiders
Simon Woolford has a shot at field goal - unsuccessful.
20 all.

82 min: NEWS Jason Smith (Raiders) comes off with concussion.

83 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Penrith Panthers
Craig Gower has a shot at field goal for the Panthers - unsuccessful.
20 all

84 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Penrith Panthers
Gower has another shot at field goal - right in front - very close but unsuccessful.
20 all

85 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Canberra Raiders
Clinton Schifcofske now has a shot and that's the first half of extra time.
Still 20 all

87 min: FIELD GOAL Canberra Raiders
Schifcofske gets a clean kick in from 25m out and the Raiders have come back in extra time to win!
Raiders 21-20

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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders)
2 - Luke Priddis (Panthers)
1 - Simon Woolford (Raiders)
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