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The young pups have had their good early work undone with the Raiders scoring two late tries and running out 36-34 winners at GIO Stadium.

It was seven tries to six in the nation’s capital at the end of 80 minutes.

Off the back of a penalty, the young pups registered their first points in the eighth minute of play through hooker Joe Tramontana who went over just to the left of the uprights. Fullback Josh Bergamin converted to give the side an early 6-nil lead.

Front row forward Peter Tiatia got sent to the sin-bin shortly after when for punching an opponent and the home side made the pups pay, scoring two tries in the 10 minute period. Hooker Zac Woolford converted both tries, putting the Raiders in front 12-6.

Once Tiatia returned, the pups got back on a roll, scoring back to back tries in the 12th and 14th minute. Luis Strickland crossed for the first and Mario El Boustani went over for the third of the afternoon. Woolford converted the try with one minute on the clock and the scores were level at 18-all at the break.

It was a great start to the second half with the pups scoring two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza. Lock forward Siaopo Tagaloa crossed in the 47th minute and just three minutes later back rower D’Rhys Miller scored. Adam Keighran took over the kicking duties and converted both with the pups back in the lead, 30-18.

A double to Raider Jack Hickson followed, with the winger crossing in the 54th and 70th minutes. Both tries were scored out wide and with neither converted the Bulldogs were able to hold on to a 30-26 lead with 10 minutes left on the clock.

A fantastic break was made in the 73rd minute with captain Marcelo Montoya showing some great speed when in open space, running 50m to score. Keighran couldn’t convert from out wide with the scoreboard reading 34-26.

The final seven minutes wasn’t pretty viewing for Bulldogs players and fans with the Raiders running in two tries to steal victory at home. Fullback Harry Van Dartel scored the first of those tries and from the restart the Raiders went the length of the field to score their seventh and winning try of the afternoon. Woolford converted one of those tries and the Raiders had registered the win, 36-34.

RAIDERS 36 (Hickson 2, Paletua-Kiri, Kris, Samuel, Van Dartel, Murchie Tries; Woolford 4 Goals)

Def.

BULLDOGS 34 (Tramontana, Strickland, El Boustani, Tagaloa, Miller, Montoya Tries; Bergamin 3, Keighran 2 Goals)

Acknowledgement of Country

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs respect and honour the Darug and Eora nations, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.