The Canberra Raiders NSW Cup team are still in the finals race after a convincing win over the Knights, while the Jersey Flegg side fell out of finals contention, going down by two points over the weekend.
NSW Cup
The Raiders NSW Cup side recorded a 26-12 victory over the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
The win sees the team finish the round in sixth place on the ladder, just one point behind the Parramatta Eels. With just one game remaining of the regular season, the Raiders will need to win their last game against the Sea Eagles and have Parramatta lose to the Knights to finish in the top five and play finals footy.
The Knights were first on the scoreboard on Sunday, with winger Hymel Hunt scoring after eight minutes of play.
The Raiders hit back in the 14th minute, with a wonderful cut-out pass from Brad Schneider finding Elijah Anderson, who beat four defenders to score in the corner.
Schneider missed the conversion, leaving the scores level at 4-4.
The home side bounced back with centre Brayden Musgrove pouncing on a kick from Chris Randell, putting his side ahead 8-4.
In what was a see-sawing first half, the Raiders were able to regain momentum and it was forward Josh Allen who scored next, carrying three defenders over the try-line to score. Schneider kicked the conversion to put his side ahead 10-8.
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scored just before half-time to give the Raiders a 14-8 lead at half-time.
The green machine's momentum continued in the second half, with James Schiller scoring his sixth try of the NSW Cup season after a catching a pin-point Matt Frawley kick and getting the ball down in the in-goal area. Schneider added the two points, making the score-line 20-8 after 48 minutes.
The Raiders extended their lead just five minutes later, with Josh James scoring next to the posts off the back of a great run and offload by Lachlan Lewis. Schneider kicked the conversion to put his side ahead 26-8.
Musgrove scored a consolation try in the final minute of play for the Knights, brining the final score to 26-12.
The Raiders take on the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles on GIO Stadium Canberra on Saturday in a must win clash.
Match: Knights v Raiders
Round 23 -
home Team
Knights
10th Position
away Team
Raiders
7th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Jersey Flegg
The Raiders Jersey Flegg team went down 32-30 to the Newcastle Knights on Saturday, putting them out of finals contention.
The side is currently in eighth position on the ladder, four points behind fifth spot with just one round remaining.
On Sunday the Knights lead 32-18 with fifteen minutes remaining before the Raiders staged a late comeback, scoring two converted tries to get within two points.
But the Knights were able to hold on the claim the win.
Earlier, the Raiders were first on the scoreboard, with Manase Kaho scoring and Noah Ryan converting.
The Knights hit back with tries to Fletcher Sharpe and Kurt Donoghoe in the space of five minutes, with second rower Thomas Cant converting both tries to give the home side a 12-6 lead.
The Raiders were able to wrestle back momentum and scored two tries of their own with Josh Billing and Caleb Tohi both picking up four pointers. Ryan converted both tries to put the Raiders ahead 18-12.
Knights fullback Sharpe scored just before half-time, with scores locked up at 18-18 at the end of the first half.
The home side started the second half strongly, scoring three straight tries to jump ahead 32-18 before the Raiders staged an unsuccessful comeback.
The Raiders take on Sea Eagles this Saturday at GIO Stadium Canberra.
Match: Knights v Raiders
Round 23 -
home Team
Knights
2nd Position
away Team
Raiders
8th Position
Venue: Newcastle No.2 Sports Ground, Newcastle
