The Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders have been defeated by the Cronulla Sharks at GIO Stadium Canberra 32-22.
Both teams were looking to bounce back after last week’s crucial losses at home.
Tensions burst very early in the match after a professional foul was made by Canberra prop Corey Horsburgh and was sent to the bin shortly after.
The first points of the match went to Cronulla after second-rower Teig Wilton broke straight through Canberra’s defence and scored on the left-hand side.
Backed by a Nicho Hynes conversion, the score became 6-0.
Using the left-hand side again, Sharks centre KL Iro broke straight through Canberra’s defensive line. Hynes converted, making the score 12-0.
16 minutes in winger Xavier Savage made an epic run down the left-hand side following a slick pass from Simi Sasagi, before offloading to Kaeo Weekes for the fullback to score under the posts.
With Ethan Sanders' conversion, the score became 12-6.
Not long after, Cronulla second-rower Billy Burns found a gap in the Raiders' defence on the right-hand side and scored. With another Hynes conversion, the score became 18-6.
After an attempted offload from centre Sebastian Kris, Kaeo Weekes grabbed it, passed it to second-rower Hudson Young and pulled off a linebreak to score on the left in the 25th minute.
Sanders converted to make the score 18-12.
In the 35th minute, Cronulla winger Sione Katoa appeared to have scored in the corner. However, the try was overturned due to his foot being on the touch line before he scored.
After some back-and-forth from both sides, the score stuck at 18-12 going into half-time.
Going into the second half, both sides came out ready and firing with hard hits and strong defence.
But it wasn’t long before points were put on the board with Canberra winger Savelio Tamale scoring in the left-hand corner following a try assist from Weekes.
Sanders missed the conversion, making the score 18-16.
Cronulla responded quickly with a try by winger Samuel Stonestreet in the 48th minute. Nicho Hynes missed the conversion, making the score 22-16.
Raiders winger Xavier Savage scored in the 55th minute after breaking through multiple Sharks' defenders, coming around from the right-hand edge and scoring under the posts. Sanders successfully made his third conversion of the match to lock the score 22-all.
The score didn't stay locked for long, with Cronulla fullback Will Kennedy reaching over to score right on Cronulla’s try line in the 59th minute. The try was successfully converted, putting the Sharks in front 28-22.
In the 71st minute, Sharks lock Jesse Colquhoun found an opportunity off what looked like a dead ball from Canberra to score under the posts. Hynes missed the conversion, making the score 32-22.
In the last seconds of the match, halfback Nicho Hynes kicked a Penalty Goal under the posts to make the score 34-22.
The Raiders will be travelling to Newcastle next weekend to play the Knights on Sunday afternoon.
