The Canberra Raiders Jersey Flegg side have suffered a tough 26-18 loss to the Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Captain Sione Moala opened the scoring for the home side, darting over for the Raiders’ first try four minutes into the game. Mitchell Spencer’s conversion gave the Raiders an early 6-0 lead.
The Tigers hit back in the 11th minute, when a great long ball found Jay Kirk on the wing. Zane Camroux’s sideline conversion attempt was unsuccessful, with the Raiders holding onto a 6-4 lead.
The Tigers hit the lead three minutes later when Kitione Kautoga busted through the Raiders’ defence close to the line to score. Camroux’s conversion attempt was again unsuccessful, with the Tigers taking an 8-6 lead after 15 minutes.
A brilliant individual effort from five-eighth Thomas Casey saw the Raiders reclaim the lead in the 19th minute, when he stepped through the Tigers defensive line to score under the posts. Spencer’s conversion gave the Raiders a 12-8 lead after 20 minutes.
The Raiders held onto their four point lead going into the half-time break, 12-8.
The Tigers started the second half in style, with Trey Peni finishing off an impressive piece of play for the away side. Camroux’s conversion was successful, taking a 14-12 lead after 39 minutes.
The Tigers extended their lead five minutes later, with James Valevatu darting over from half to score. Camroux added the two points to give the Tigers a 20-12 lead after 45 minutes.
Raiders centre Josh Billings went over the try-line untouched for a four-pointer in the 51st minute, with Spencer converting to close the gap to 20-18.
But the Tigers hit back just four minutes later through halfback Jamie Lawler, off the back of a Raiders error on their own goal-line. Camroux added the two points to make it 26-18 with 13 minutes of play remaining.
The Raiders had an attacking set with a minute and a half of the game to go, but the Tigers defence proved too strong, with the visitors holding on for the win.
