Roosters back on track with a win in Newcastle

The Roosters have come away with a hard fought win against the Knights in Newcastle by 32-22.

The large crowd of 22,126 were treated to some heart in mouth viewing as the home team kept right in touch with the Roosters after losing captain Kennedy early in the match with a hamstring injury which looks likely to keep him out of next week's test against the Kiwis.

The Roosters went to the break with a narrow lead of just 10-6, after Cross picked out an intercept right on the halftime bell.

The Knights came out firing in the second half, in what was a very tense and close match.

The score remained tight until the last five minutes of the match when the Roosters firstly were given a penalty, followed by a try to Minichiello right on the full time buzzer to take the score out to a 10 point difference, not a real indication of how close the match had really been.

The Roosters end a two game losing streak while the Knights can hold their heads up after losing Kennedy early in the match.

Newcastle now look forward to hosting the test match between Australia and New Zealand next Friday night.

EnergyAustralia Stadium Crowd: 22,126 Referee: Tim Mander Video Referee: Stephen Clark. Touch Judges: Steve Chiddy, Paul Kalina

Scorers: KNIGHTS 22 Tries: M Gidley, Carmont, Tahu, K Gidley Goals: Abraham 3/4 defeated by ROOSTERS 32 Tries: Minichiello 2, Cross, Walker, Cadic Goals: Crocker 6/6, Fittler 1/1

By the clock: 0 min: Kick off!! A great crowd in Newcastle for this exciting match

5th min: NEWS - Bright sunshine in Newcastle, both sides settling in at this stage

8th min: NEWS - Kennedy (Knights) hobbling on the field with what appears to be a hamstring injury. No score in the game

10th min: TRY - Minichiello for Roosters. A penalty 35 metres out gives great field position to the Roosters. They pass the ball out wide to Walker and he gets a great ball back inside to Minichiello who scores. Crocker from close to the sideline, just misses the conversion. Roosters 4-0

15th min: NEWS - Tahu (Knights) fires a horror pass in goal to O'Davis who luckily scooped it up but caught in goal. Roosters launch another attack. News on Kennedy is the Knights doctor stating it is highly unlikely Kennedy would be available, he's off the field. Roosters hold the lead, 4-0

25th min: NEWS - The Knights starting to have more possession however options on the last tackle are letting them down. The Roosters appear patient. 4-0 to the Roosters

34th min: TRY - M Gidley for Knights. A penalty to the Knights on their fifth tackle gives them excellent field position. Buderus set up the try with a great run from dummy half. Kurt Gidley fires a great pass to brother Matt who flies over the line. The conversion by Abraham is successful. Knights 6-4

40th min: TRY - Cross for Roosters. O'Davis (Knights) did well to catch the high ball while under pressure from the Roosters players. The Knights start play from just in front of their line. Unfortunately the pass from Gidley to Tahu was lazy and Cross snaps the intercept to score the try from 10 metres out. Crocker converts. Roosters 10-6

HALF TIME: With their leader Kennedy off the park, the Knights have held on well. The late try to the Roosters was a blow. Roosters lead at the break, 10-6, the game very evenly poised

Second half in this close contest is underway..

42nd min: TRY - Carmont for Knights. A great start for the Knights. Tahu takes the ball behind the goal line. He offloads to Lowrie who busts through the defence then passes to a flying Carmont. He runs 45 metres to score through the stretched Roosters defence. Abraham converts from right out in front. Knights 12-10

47th min: NEWS - The Knights have come out from the break on fire. Tahu unlucky to score out wide, just pushed over the sideline 2 metres short from scoring. Knights lead 12-10

50th min: NO TRY - The Roosters close to scoring following a 40/20. A high kick in goal by Ricketson is hotly contested. Unfortunately the replay show Byrne just had a hand on the ball and knocked on. Knights 12-10

53rd min: PENALTY GOAL - Crocker for Roosters. The Knights give away a silly penalty 35 metres out from the Roosters line. Crocker has no trouble to level the score. 12 all

55th min: TRY - Walker for Roosters. A Finch kick from the halfway line has O'Davis under pressure from Minichiello. He bumbles the catch and Walker is there to pick up the scraps from the heap of players and score. Crocker adds the easy 2 points. Roosters 18-12

62nd min: TRY - Tahu for Knights. Witt passes out to Matt Gidley who wrong foots the defence totally. He fires the ball out to Tahu who wasn't stopping for anyone. A shocking conversion by Abraham from the sideline goes straight ahead instead of through the posts. Roosters 18-16

68th min: TRY - Cadic for Roosters. A mistake by the Knights 35 metres out from the Roosters line, and the scrum feed to the Roosters. On attack Finch side steps and dummies the defence, passes to Cadic who is unmarked over the line. Fittler takes the conversion, he's successful. Roosters 24-16

75th min: TRY - K Gidley for Knights. Never say die football by the Knights and they succeed with a line dropout. A committed Kurt Gidley was unstoppable close to the line. Abraham with the quick conversion. Roosters 24-22

77th min: PENALTY GOAL - Crocker for Roosters. The Knights penalised for a controversial strip 35 metres out. This coming after the Roosters weren't penalised for an early tackle on Witt. Crocker makes no mistake. Roosters 26-22

80th min: TRY - Minichiello for Roosters. A solid set of six by the Roosters ends with a fine pass by Finch to Minichiello who juggles the ball and scores in the corner. Crocker's kick from the sideline is a beauty. Roosters 32-22

FULL TIME: A bit of a score blowout in the end, it could easily have gone either way with 5 mins to go. Great game ----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - M Crocker (Roosters) 2 - B Finch (Roosters) 1 - D Buderus (Knights) -----------------------------------------