The Raiders keep their finals hopes alive against the Bulldogs in the nation’s capital.
Result
Canberra Raiders 36
Tries: (6) Matthew Timoko 11th, 49th; Jarrod Croker 31st; Nick Cotric 60th; Jordan Rapana 67th; Josh Papali’i 72nd
Goals: (6) Jarrod Croker 13th, 32nd, 50th, 62nd, 68th, 73rd
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24
Tries: (4) Blake Wilson 27th; Jacob Kiraz 35th; Toby Sexton 55th; Liam Knight 78th
Goals: (4) Matt Burton 28th, 36th, 56th, 78th
Report
A Jordan Rapana masterclass helped the Raiders down a determined Bulldogs side 36-24 as they tightened their grip on a finals berth.
Rapana played a starring role, scoring a try and setting up three more as the home side put in a much improved effort in front of their home crowd in a see-sawing affair.
Raiders star playmaker Jack Wighton was a late withdrawal from this clash, with Matt Frawley taking his place in the halves alongside Jamal Fogarty.
Matt Timoko opened the scoring for the Raiders, supporting Jordan Rapana and strolling over untouched before Jarrod Croker pushed the lead out to six points.
The Bulldogs would then level up the scores through Blake Wilson when the winger crossed in the corner. Burton then levelled the scores with a sideline conversion.
Croker would add to his ever-impressive points tally with a bomb falling right into his hands to score a four pointer of his own, before adding the extras and return the Raiders to a six-point advantage.
The Bulldogs just wouldn’t go away, as a Villiame Kikau charge down gave them the field position they needed, and Burton combined with Jacob Kiraz to level the scores heading into the halftime break following Burton’s conversion.
Timoko would again open the scoring for the Raiders in the second half, beating Burton one-on-one before streaking away to score. Croker continued his flawless efforts with the boot, adding the extras to push the lead back out to six.
Toby Sexton made sure the lead did not last long, with the halfback throwing the dummy, and beating Hudson Young on the outside, to lock the scores up at 18-all with 20 minutes to play.
The Raiders were the next to score through Nick Cotric, with the winger making the most of very limited space on the sideline, reaching out to score and restore the home side’s six point lead.
The Raiders would score back-to-back tries for the first time in the game when Rapana crashed over and extend their lead to double digits, leading 30-18 with just 10 minutes remaining.
Canberra’s front row leader Josh Papali’i capped off the scoring for the home side when he charged over the line under the posts to put the game out of reach.
The Bulldogs would score a consolation try through mid-season recruit Liam Knight in the dying stages.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
2 – Josh Papali’i (Raiders)
1 – Matt Timoko (Raiders)
