Canberra Raiders Cup Round Eight Wrap

Round Eight of the Canberra Raiders Cup saw some action-packed games with two teams claiming their first victories of the season.

Woden Valley Rams 14 def. Queanbeyan Blues 10

The Woden Valley Rams played a hard-fought game against the second placed Queanbeyan Blues with a narrow win at Phillip Oval.

It was a tight victory for the Rams, scoring three tries to two, with a notable performance from winger Tomasi Bikaca who bagged a double.

The loss for the Blues will be disappointing for the side considering the strong start they have had to the season. For the Rams this win is the third of the season and holds the Blues at five.

The Rams will be looking to continue this wave of momentum when they travel to Goulburn to take on the Bulldogs next week, while the Blues will be aiming to reinstate themselves against the Yass Magpies.

Yass Magpies 28 def. Belconnen United Sharks 18

The Yass Magpies secured their first win for the season last week against the Belconnen United Sharks on home soil.

It was a well-rounded victory for the Magpies with a hattrick from Lekani Mpasa contributing to their impressive win.

Sharks’ Tristian Eldridge attempted to guide his team to victory with a double, but their poor conversion rate unravelled any chance of the team finishing on top.

The Sharks started their season firing with three wins in a row, but have since struggled to find their feet. They will be hoping to kickstart their winning form again when they take on the West Belconnen Warriors at home this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Magpies will be eager to begin their winning streak against the Blues in Queanbeyan.

Tuggeranong Bushrangers 32 def. Goulburn City Bulldogs 4

The Tuggeranong Bushrangers asserted their dominance against the Goulburn City Bulldogs welcoming their first win of the season.

The Bushrangers approached the game with a strong attacking effort, crossing for six tries to the Bulldogs one, with Liam Oakley contributing two.

Bulldogs’ Dominic Stephens attempted to inspire his team with a try, but the Bushrangers proved too strong and didn’t allow Goulburn to mount a comeback.

The Bulldogs work will be cut out for them when they take on the top four side Woden Valley Rams, where the Bushrangers take a week off to rest.

Queanbeyan Kangaroos 16 def. West Belconnen Warriors 0

The Queanbeyan Kangaroos continued their winning streak with a powerful victory against the West Belconnen Warriors.

It was a strong win to the Kangaroos who held the Warriors scoreless for the entire match despite Belconnen’s relentless goal-line defence.

Previous games for Queanbeyan have resulted in a much larger margin between their opponents, so the Warriors can take pride in having disrupted many of their attacking efforts.

The Warriors will be looking to bounce back when they take on the Sharks next Saturday, where the Roos will be hoping to extend their winning streak when they come up against the Gungahlin Bulls at home.

Image by Trish Sullivan