Canterbury comeback cruels Canberra in cracking contest

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Canberra Raiders v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have executed one of the game's great second half comebacks to overturn a 20-0 deficit and down the Raiders 32-20 in front of a massive 23,827 crowd at GIO Stadium.

It was the ultimate tale of two halves. Canberra came out of the blocks strong and within four minutes capitalised on some sloppy discipline and defence from the Bulldogs with Zac Hosking scoring near the posts.

The visitors struggled to get their hands on the footy and kept making poor decisions with and without the ball. Canberra fullback Kaeo Weekes found his way through some of that poor defending and the Raiders were up 10-0 before the quarter-mark of the game.

By the 25th minute the damage was clear when Xavier Savage scored a long range effort put on by Jamal Fogarty, who found Matt Timoko before Savage finished off the right side movement.

'Dogs fans would've been forgiven for getting an early start up the Federal Highway when Hudson Young sliced through two minutes before the break, handing the hosts a 20-0 lead at halftime.

Stephen Crichton turned into Canterbury's own version of the Incredible Hulk after the break and almost on his own turned the entire contest.

He scored himself on the 45th minute to start the Bulldogs' road back into the contest, before laying a try on for Jaeman Salmon at the 48th minute.

By the 53rd minute, big parts of the packed stadium were stunned into silence when Marcelo Montoya got the Bulldogs' third try and the twenty point deficit had reduced to just two points.

Tries either side of the 60-minute mark from big Max King and Viliame Kikau saw the Bulldogs surge into the lead.

Jacob Kiraz capped the win with a 72nd-minute try, completing one of the more remarkable comebacks in recent memory and putting the Bulldogs four clear at the top of the competition (at least for the next few hours).

Next week Canterbury will host long-time rivals the Roosters in a marquee Friday night clash, while the Raiders are hosting the Gold Coast in Sunday afternoon footy.