Full Time
80:00
3:00pm Sat May 8, 2021
Round 9 - McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga / Wiradjuri - Crowd: 6642
80min

Knights die with the ball on last. Raiders have it. Kicked forward but Rapana is hobbling and it trickles over the sideline. FULLTIME.

79min

Raiders go short? it just landed right in a Knights hand. Game over.

78min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Kalyn Ponga.

Ponga taking his time over this one. The fullback strikes it well.

Knights lead Raiders 16 - 24 Knights
77min

Try: Knights
Scored by Jayden Brailey. Kick to come.

That is game, set and bingo! Ponga keeps it alive enough for Brailey to dive over.

Knights lead Raiders 16 - 22 Knights
76min

Brayden Musgrove dives on the ball despite a rib injury and gets to the ball first! Knights ball!

76min

Knights lost their way on last tackle. It went left to right then Mann dribbles it over the sideline. Seven tackle set.

75min

The game has opened up now! Simonssen thought he was away but Starford To'a rips it away. Knights ball.

72min

Rapana is streaking away! The winger kicks inside and Jayden Brayley is there to gobble the ball up.

72min

Knights with an ambitous pass for To'a who spills it.

72min

Whitehead loses it trying to strip the ball.

70min

RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Aekins has bounced it.

70min

BUNKER TIME! Caleb Aekins might have pinched this one.

70min

Forward pass from the Knights! Can the Raiders respond.

69min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Kalyn Ponga.

First kick from the right side for Ponga. It is close to the sticks and the fullback puts the Knights ahead.

Knights lead Raiders 16 - 18 Knights
68min

Try: Knights
Scored by Tyson Frizell. Kick to come.

Knights are level. All the numbers were on the right. Frizell goes himself, cuts inside and gets it down.

Tied up at Raiders 16 - 16 Knights
67min

Mann spots the space and kicks softly enough for Simonssen to knock dead. Dropout.

66min

Oh dear. Williams who has had a wonderful game, kicks one out on the full.

65min

Ponga almost got jammed on last. He somehow got it back to Mann who lifts one high for Musgrove to catch then knock on.

63min

Mann chips a kick straight to Simonssen. Raiders rucking it out now.

61min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Kalyn Ponga.

Ponga brings the Knights back within four.

Raiders lead Raiders 16 - 12 Knights
60min

Try: Knights
Scored by Kalyn Ponga. Kick to come.

Knights are back in this game! They kept the ball alive - all their key men touched it - Mann, Crossland and finished by Ponga.

Raiders lead Raiders 16 - 10 Knights
59min

Raiders run it on last. Whitehead throws the dummy but is taken well.

56min

Raiders starting to find some holes around the ruck. Jack Wighton running strong but loses it on contact.

54min

Big Papa is rolling! He just skittled some Knights defenders and tried to kick it for Williams. It rolled around but Mann is there to cover. Also we had one of the best sights in league - a referee taking a tumble.

52min

To'a made up for his error. Wighton feigned the kick and passed left but Kris is held up well by a gaggle of Knights.

50min

Another huge bomb and Starford To'a knocks on.

48min

Elliot Whitehead tries the quick pass but loses control.

47min

That was a messy end to the set but Raiders manufacture a repeat set. It went to right, Scott dribbled it out back and Williams toed through.

46min

Since the try we have settled back into a holding pattern. Knights rolling through their sets, same with the Raiders.

43min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Kalyn Ponga.

Ponga from close range. Nails it.

Raiders lead Raiders 16 - 6 Knights
42min

Try: Knights
Scored by Phoenix Crossland. Kick to come.

Knights get a reward from their gamble. Watson goes short to Crossland to dive over.

Raiders lead Raiders 16 - 4 Knights
41min

Mann tries to chip one in-goal but it is well covered. Dropout incoming.

40min

KICK-OFF! Knights with a trick shot. Ponga trickled one along the ground and Watson picked it up! A set restart quickly followed too.

40min

We're back for the second half! The Raiders have not had the best second forty this season and the Knights need to show something, anything!

39min

Conversion: Raiders
Kicked by George Williams.

Toughest kick of the afternoon for Williams. Arrow straight and over.

Raiders lead Raiders 16 - 0 Knights
38min

Try: Raiders
Scored by Bailey Simonsson. Kick to come.

Straight from the scrum, Williams sweeps left and Simonsson dives over.

Raiders lead Raiders 14 - 0 Knights
37min

That was a devilish kick. Williams sent it high and Ponga spills it.

32min

Conversion: Raiders
Kicked by George Williams.

Another easy kick for Williams. He raises the flags again.

Raiders lead Raiders 10 - 0 Knights
31min

Try: Raiders
Scored by Joseph Tapine. Kick to come.

We have a four pointer! Rapana drifts in-field found the big man who strides over.

Raiders lead Raiders 8 - 0 Knights
29min

It was a middling set from the Raiders. Got help with the set restart but Wighton toes through to earn them a repeat set.

27min

RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! It was some lovely play but Frizell impacted the defender. PENALTY RAIDERS!

27min

BUNKER TIME! Ponga power might have got the Knights on the board. Checking contact and putdown.

25min

Raiders get a pair of restarts there from some sloppy play. Luckily Hudson Young spills it on the first.

23min

Ponga takes on the line and tries a juggling act at the wrong time.

23min

PENALTY KNIGHTS! Rapana takes out the man who isn't catching the ball. Easy passage for the Knights away from their line.

22min

Lachlan Fitzgibbon bursts through! He found Crossland who was looking for support quickly. Knights try to play quickly but Klemmer loses it.

20min

Raiders run it on last. The last pass to Kris goes astray.

14min

Oh dear. Kurt Mann spills it in open play.

14min

Knights tried to sweep it left but Ponga's pass is low and touched. Knights ball still.

12min

Shot from Frizell forces Sutton into an errant pass which Guler spills.

11min

Penalty Goal: Raiders
Kicked by George Williams.

Williams adds two more.

Raiders lead Raiders 4 - 0 Knights
10min

PENALTY RAIDERS! Offside from the scrum. Lachlan Fitzgibbon left early. Raiders shoot for the posts again.

9min

High kick and Starford To'a knocks it on.

7min

Penalty Goal: Raiders
Kicked by George Williams.

George Williams has kicking duties today. The Englishman lines it up and drives it through.

Raiders lead Raiders 2 - 0 Knights
7min

PENALTY RAIDERS! Emre Guler gets lifted past the horizontal. Raiders point to the posts.

5min

All Raiders thus far. Chipped kick from Williams sees Brayden Musgrove trapped in-goal.

4min

Ponga saves the day! Raiders got themselves a set restart and used their edges well. Simonsson getting trapped close. On last, Raiders stretched it right and the kick is gobbled up by a brave Ponga.

2min

Solid first set from the Knights then an open start from the Raiders. A few offloads and a Josh Starling dart parked Kalyn Ponga in the corner.

It is a packed house down in Wagga. Some fantastic jerseys on display from the faithful. We get some shots of the dressing rooms with teams doing their final preparations. Knights head out first in their white away jersey to a razzing from the locals. Next it is the strains of the Raiders theme song which sees the home side jog out and look to arrest their slide.

Welcome to Wagga! The place so nice they named it twice. Wagga is the scene of an important game in the context of both Canberra and Newcastle's seasons. Both sides have been in terrible form and maybe the country air can help them get back on track. The Raiders are 1-17 with their side while the Knights have a raft of changes. Lachlan Fitzgibbon returns in the second row which pushes Connor Watson to the bench while Starford To'a is on the wing in #19 which sees Gehamat Shibasaki become the 18th man. Grab your drink, some snacks and get ready to rumble in ten minutes.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Adam Gee

Touch Judges: Phil Henderson, Wyatt Raymond

Video Referee: Henry Perenara

CANBERRA RAIDERS (16)
Tries: Joseph Tapine, Bailey Simonsson
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: George Williams (2/2)
Penalty Goals: George Williams (2/2)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (24)
Tries: Phoenix Crossland, Kalyn Ponga, Tyson Frizell, Jayden Brailey
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (4/4)
Penalty Goals: