The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have tonight been defeated by the Canberra Raiders by 22 points to 18 at Workers Arena in Goulburn.
It was five tries to three with the match being played in terrible conditions with the rain pouring down for the duration and the wind swirling around the venue.
The Raiders probably had the better of the possession and field position in the early minutes with three sets within the Bulldogs 20m line causing some concern for the 2012 Minor Premiers.
The first points of the match came in the ninth minute to the Bulldogs. The try was scored by Sam Perrett in the right hand corner off the back of some good second phase play and ball movement. In extremely wet conditions the ball handling was outstanding prior to Perrett registering the four-pointer. Centre Krisnan Inu smartly converted to put the Bulldogs out to a 6-nil lead.
The next period of the match saw each side work the centre of the field but when the Bulldogs decided to head right again Perrett found himself going over for his second try only for it to be called back for a forward pass from fullback Ben Barba.
It wasnt until the 32nd minute where the Raiders were able to crack the Bulldogs defence. It was a kick off the boot of Josh McCrone over to the corner of Josh Morris and Steve Turner. It was Raiders winger Sandor Earl who leapt the highest and knocked the ball back for his centre Blake Ferguson who got the ball down. The conversion was unsuccessful with the Bulldogs holding on to a 6-4 lead.
The final eight minutes of the half was riddled with errors as the rain continued to fall and the playing surface causing some concern for the players as they struggled to stay on their feet. No team were able to register any further points and the blue and whites went to the sheds leading 6-4.
The players returned to the field for the second half as the rain continued to come down. Just four minutes into the half, the Bulldogs were able to extend their lead through centre Josh Morris. A Kris Keating cross-kick was snapped up by Morris who planted the ball down for his first try of the year. Inu brilliantly converted to extend the lead out to 12-4.
It was then the Raiders who took control of the match and put on 18 points in 16 minutes to get out to a 22-12 lead. Tries to Dimitri Pelo, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Sandor Earl and Jarrad Kennedy all crossed for the Raiders with Tony Milford converting one to put them in the lead.
With two minutes remaining the Bulldogs were playing catch-up and five-eighth Josh Reynolds took the ball to the line and put in a grubber with replacement fullback Drury Low winning the race to the ball to score. Inu swiftly converted to reduce the gap to 22-18.
The final moments were played out and with the final siren sounding, the Raiders had recorded a 22-18 victory.
RAIDERS 22 (Ferguson, Pelo, Learoyd-Lahrs, Earl, Kennedy Tries; Milford 1 Goal) Def. BULLDOGS 18 (Perrett, Morris, Low Tries; Inu 3 Goals)
It was five tries to three with the match being played in terrible conditions with the rain pouring down for the duration and the wind swirling around the venue.
The Raiders probably had the better of the possession and field position in the early minutes with three sets within the Bulldogs 20m line causing some concern for the 2012 Minor Premiers.
The first points of the match came in the ninth minute to the Bulldogs. The try was scored by Sam Perrett in the right hand corner off the back of some good second phase play and ball movement. In extremely wet conditions the ball handling was outstanding prior to Perrett registering the four-pointer. Centre Krisnan Inu smartly converted to put the Bulldogs out to a 6-nil lead.
The next period of the match saw each side work the centre of the field but when the Bulldogs decided to head right again Perrett found himself going over for his second try only for it to be called back for a forward pass from fullback Ben Barba.
It wasnt until the 32nd minute where the Raiders were able to crack the Bulldogs defence. It was a kick off the boot of Josh McCrone over to the corner of Josh Morris and Steve Turner. It was Raiders winger Sandor Earl who leapt the highest and knocked the ball back for his centre Blake Ferguson who got the ball down. The conversion was unsuccessful with the Bulldogs holding on to a 6-4 lead.
The final eight minutes of the half was riddled with errors as the rain continued to fall and the playing surface causing some concern for the players as they struggled to stay on their feet. No team were able to register any further points and the blue and whites went to the sheds leading 6-4.
The players returned to the field for the second half as the rain continued to come down. Just four minutes into the half, the Bulldogs were able to extend their lead through centre Josh Morris. A Kris Keating cross-kick was snapped up by Morris who planted the ball down for his first try of the year. Inu brilliantly converted to extend the lead out to 12-4.
It was then the Raiders who took control of the match and put on 18 points in 16 minutes to get out to a 22-12 lead. Tries to Dimitri Pelo, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Sandor Earl and Jarrad Kennedy all crossed for the Raiders with Tony Milford converting one to put them in the lead.
With two minutes remaining the Bulldogs were playing catch-up and five-eighth Josh Reynolds took the ball to the line and put in a grubber with replacement fullback Drury Low winning the race to the ball to score. Inu swiftly converted to reduce the gap to 22-18.
The final moments were played out and with the final siren sounding, the Raiders had recorded a 22-18 victory.
RAIDERS 22 (Ferguson, Pelo, Learoyd-Lahrs, Earl, Kennedy Tries; Milford 1 Goal) Def. BULLDOGS 18 (Perrett, Morris, Low Tries; Inu 3 Goals)
