Raiders score capital upset over Dragons
Written by: Ian Ritchie
23/07/2006

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Round 20
Canberra Raiders 31 v St George Illawarra Dragons 12
at Canberra Stadium
Referee: Paul Simpkins

Match Summary:
The Canberra Raiders 2006 Finals hopes are well and truly alive following a resounding 31-12 hiding of the near full strength St George Illawarra Dragons at Canberra Stadium this afternoon.

The Dragons opened the scoring in only the seventh minute with Trent Barrett scoring out wide after some very nice ball movement and a great run by Colin Best. After nearly 15 minutes of pressure the Raiders got off the mark, Micheal Weyman barging over from a tap penalty. The conversion put the Raiders up 6-4. Seven minutes before half time the Aaron Gorrell locked the match up a 6-6 with a penalty goal. The Raiders re-established their lead not three minutes later, Adam Mogg putting Jason Smith in off a somewhat forward pass.

The Raiders took a commanding 12 point lead two minutes into the half with Todd Carney scoring a surprisingly easy try, as he ran right past several defenders to dot down under the posts. Just after the hour mark Clinton Schifcofske landed a field goal to put the Raiders up by 13.

Mark Gasnier scored a few minutes later to give the Dragons a hint of a comeback at 19-12. Only a few minutes later Simon Woolford knocked on over the goal line. The Dragons couldn’t make the Raiders pay for the error. Jason Ryles was sin binned with seven minutes to go in the match, and several plays later Todd Carney latched onto a Jason Smith grubber to seal the win. Clinton Schifcofske set up another try for the Adrian Purtell in the 77th minute, and then slotted the sideline conversion for the 31-12 scoreline.

Next week the Dragons host the Storm at OKI Jubilee Stadium, while the Raiders are also in Sydney to play the Rabbitohs at Telstra Stadium.

Scorers:
Canberra Raiders: 31
Tries: Todd Carney(2), Jason Smith, Michael Weyman, Adrian Purtell
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 5/5
Field Goals: Clinton Schifcofske
St George Illawarra Dragons: 12
Tries: Trent Barrett, Mark Gasnier
Goals: Aaron Gorrell 2/2
Half time: Raiders 12-6

By the Clock:
Todays game in the ACT has the Canberra Raiders hosting St George Illawarra. This afternoon the Dragons are looking to hop up into a share of 2nd on the ladder, while the Raiders desperately need to win following last nights results.

The Dragons in scarlet, the Raiders in green.

For the Raiders, Withers starts at halfback, Carney to the bench and Woolford starts. A heap of changes for the Dragons. Wicks and Ryles in, Hornby to fullback, Greenshields to Premier League. Gasnier is in the centres.

1 min: The Dragons kick off!

2 min: The weather is fine, somewhat grey.

7 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons spread the ball wide to Best, just before he gets tossed over the sideline he passes inside to Barrett who celebrates his return with a try in the corner. Head hooks the conversion.
Dragons 4-0

10 min: The Dragons go wide on the other side of the field, Morris runs away, his pass to support inside is knocked back the the Raiders, Dean Young nearly got to the ball, but the Raiders bat it dead.

11 min: Poore can't control the ball on an attempted barge over play.

13 min: The Raiders ruin some great leadup play. Wooford kicks for Mogg who recovers the ball. On the next play Smith runs behind a player and isn't penalised for obstruction, then he throws a cut out pass high over the sideline.

15 min: Head nearly comes up with an intercept for the Dragons. Croker loses the ball from the scrum.

17 min: Mogg drives Cooper across the sideline in a great defensive play.

19 min: Some good play on the last tackle by the Raiders picks up a line dropout.

21 min: Smiths grubber into the goalposts allows the Dragons to come up with the ball - had the ball gone past the posts it was a try for all money. The Raiders force the Dragons to kick only 15 metres out.

22 min: Mogg claims a try in the corner, however Chalk was forced out over the whitewash first.

26 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Right off a penalty Weyman hits the ball up and strolls across the tryline. Schifcofske converts. The Raiders take a well deserved lead.
Raiders 6-4

30 min: Weyman goes very close to scoring again, he gets held up.

33 min: PENALTY GOAL St George Illawarra Dragons
A break by Hornby and Best has the Raiders penalised for offside. Gorrell adds the two points.
6 all.

Wild play before the penalty, a Smith kick bounces horribly for Withers who very nearly scored, Hornby got the ball and set off.

35 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Great lead up play by the Raiders to this try. Mogg puts Smith in with a very good offload. Schifcofske converts.
Raiders 12-6

HALFTIME: The Raiders lead 12-6 after a particularly exciting half of football.

Stats
Possession: Raiders 54%-46%
Completions: Raiders 15/19, Dragons 12/15
Tackles/Missed: Raiders 124/22, Dragons 145/15
Offloads: Raiders 9-4
Errors: Raiders 6-5

40 min: Underway in the second half.

41 min: Young makes an error only 30 seconds into the half.

42 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Carney gets the ball deep out wide, he changes his running angle and scores with alarming ease under the posts. Schifcofske converts.
Raiders 18-6

50 min: The Dragons making a lot of errors - the Raiders are really going well.

51 min: Best is forced to knock the ball over the sideline and the Raiders get a scrum 15 out.

53 min: VIDEO REF - for a Raiders try...

53 min: NO TRY - Graham ruled to have knocked on from a Mogg kick.

56 min: INJURY - Lee Te Maari in all sorts for trouble after a head clash.

58 min: Try as they might, the Dragons just can't finish off after any good movements.

59 min: Barrett holds the pass up, he hangs on too long and passes over the sideline.

61 min: A great Schifcofske kick gets the Raiders a drop out.

63 min: FIELD GOAL Canberra Raiders
Schifcofske lands a field goal to make the Raiders lead a bakers dozen.
Raiders 19-6

67 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Gasnier scores under the posts for the Dragons. Gorrell converts.
Raiders 19-12

71 min: Woolford knocks on over the goal line.

73 min: SIN BIN - Jason Ryles is sin binned for saying something to Simpkins, a completely moronic act.

73 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Carney collects a Smith kick and dots down out wide. Schifcofske converts.
Raiders 25-12

77 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Schifcofske runs across the field with the ball in one hand, he throws the ball over the top to Purtell who scores out wide. Schifcofske converts.
Raiders 31-12

FULLTIME: The Raiders come up with a 31-12 win over the Dragons with easily their best performance of the year.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Jason Smith (Raiders)
2 - Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders)
1 - Adam Mogg (Raiders)
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