Match Summary
The Canberra Raiders have triumphed in their first home game of the 2008 season with a 21-14 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons.

The Dragons started the match with a hiss and a roar, opening up a 10-0 lead within the first 12 minutes thanks to an early try to winger Jason Nightingale and a couple of Mark Gasnier penalty goals. Despite losing Phil Graham to a knee injury midway through the first half, the Raiders were able to work their way back into the match and narrowed the gap with a try to prop Troy Thompson in the 28th minute.

Jason Nightingale scored a second try for the visitors shortly afterwards, but the Raiders managed to hit straight back in the shadows of halftime thanks to Terry Campese. A 14-12 halftime score in favour of the Dragons was a fair reflection of the contest although both teams were struggling to maintain consistent pressure on their opposition.

After a slow first ten minutes of the second half the Raiders burst into action with a 40/20 from Todd Carney setting up the field position for a try to Joel Monaghan, and Monaghan followed up with a second try just a few minutes later. The Dragons struggled to match the lift in intensity from the home team, and aside from a near miss in the 64th minute they never threatened to add to their halftime score. Carney added the finishing touch with a last-minute field goal to seal the victory.

While the Raiders will be happy with the victory, they’ll still need plenty of improvement to match the top teams in this year’s competition. The loss of Phil Graham is potentially a cruel blow after losing William Zillman in Round 2, and Lincoln Withers could also be facing a judiciary charge after a late and clumsy hit on Jamie Soward late in the match.

The Dragons have come down to earth with a thud after their strong showing against the Titans last week. Some of their big names were hardly sighted in the second half, and they still have a nasty habit of giving away penalties at precisely the wrong times. Jarrod Saffy will be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week, reported for an alleged bite on Todd Carney.

Match Details
Round 3 - March 29th, 2008 7:30pm
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Referee: Gavin Badger
Crowd: 14,400
Halftime: Dragons 14-12

Canberra Raiders 21
Tries: Joel Monaghan (2), Troy Thompson, Terry Campese
Goals: Todd Carney (2/4)
Field Goals: Todd Carney (1/2)

St George Illawarra Dragons 14
Tries: Jason Nightingale (2)
Goals: Mark Gasnier (3/3), Jamie Soward (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match
3 Points: Joel Monaghan (Raiders)
2 Points: Todd Carney (Raiders)
1 Point: Michael Weyman (Raiders)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Hello everyone! Canberra Stadium is about to host its first game of the 2008 season as the Canberra Raiders take on the St George Illawarra Dragons.

There's a few changes for both teams ...
RAIDERS - Nigel Plum is out, Michael Weyman and Joe Picker will start, Troy Thompson is benched and Lincoln Withers completes the 17.
DRAGONS - Jason Ryles and Ben Ellis will start, Justin Poort and Simon Woolford are benched. Chase Stanley has also dropped off the bench and Lagi Setu comes in.

KICKOFF - We're underway!

4 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Jamie Soward puts in a cross-field chip kick on a very early tackle that catches the Raiders off guard - the ball takes a sweet bounce into Jason Nightingale's arms and he crosses untouched in the corner. Mark Gasnier converts from out wide.
St George Illawarra Dragons 6-0

8 min: Dan Hunt drops the ball as the Dragons are trying to work their way out of trouble - the Raiders will have a chance to hit back here.

9 min: Jamie Soward scoots away after a terrible pass from Terry Campese is claimed by the Dragons. Soward is tackled only ten metres out from the Raiders tryline after a great chase from Adrian Purtell and Phil Graham.

10 min: PENALTY GOAL St George Illawarra Dragons
Michael Weyman is penalised for being offside as he ambles upfield to join his teammates after the Soward break, and Mark Gasnier adds another two points.
St George Illawarra Dragons 8-0

12 min: PENALTY GOAL St George Illawarra Dragons
Colin Best is penalised for playing the ball in the wrong direction - but was he the victim of a spear tackle first? Mark Gasnier steps up and kicks another two points for the Dragons.
St George Illawarra Dragons 10-0

16 min: Terry Campese launches a bomb with the Raiders hot on attack, Adrian Purtell does well to claim it in traffic but his offload to Marshall Chalk is fumbled - a try gone begging for the Raiders.

19 min: Another Raiders attacking kick (this time from Todd Carney) nearly produces a try but Ben Hornby is on hand to knock it dead at the last second.

20 min: Todd Carney fumbles on the first tackle after the goal-line drop out, letting the Dragons off the hook.

23 min: INJURY - Phil Graham has gone down awkwardly in a tackle, it looks to be a knee injury. He's walked from the field by the trainers.

24 min: Todd Carney tries an attacking grubber kick with about ten Dragons in front of him and no Raiders chasing. Surprisingly, it doesn't work.

27 min: Bronx Goodwin looks to have suffered a rib injury, but he's staying on the field for now.

28 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Lincoln Withers joins the Raiders from the bench and makes an immediate difference with some sharp dummy-half passing. Troy Thompson takes full advantage by running onto a short Withers pass close to the Dragons tryline and crashing over to open their account. Todd Carney converts.
St George Illawarra Dragons 10-6

31 min: A nice Rangi Chase grubber kick finds plenty of open space near the Raiders goalposts, but Bronx Goodwin swoops in from nowhere to clean it up just ahead of the chasing Dragons.

32 min: CHOMP - Todd Carney accuses Jarrod Saffy of biting him. Gavin Badger puts it on report.

33 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Jason Nightingale flies very high to claim a Rangi Chase bomb and scores his second try of the night. Jamie Soward misses the conversion attempt.
St George Illawarra Dragons 14-6

37 min: Adrian Purtell tries a fancy pass far too close to the sideline and is bundled into touch - but that doesn't stop him giving Joel Monaghan a spray for some reason.

40 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Terry Campese scores with seconds remaining in the first half after throwing a dummy to get past Matt Cooper and climbing over the top of Ben Hornby to find the line. Todd Carney converts.
St George Illawarra Dragons 14-12

HALFTIME: Canberra Raiders 12 St George Illawarra Dragons 14

Neither team has too much to gloat about from the first half - this game is definitely still up for grabs. Canberra will be down one man on the bench for the rest of the night as Phil Graham won't be returning.

The second half is underway!

45 min: Both teams are coming up with plenty of errors to start the second half.

48 min: 40/20 - Todd Carney nails a beauty!

50 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
Joel Monaghan finishes off a nice backline movement by crashing through a couple of Dragons defenders and the Raiders take the lead. Todd Carney misses the conversion attempt.
Canberra Raiders 16-14

54 min: TRY Canberra Raiders
And again! A penalty gives the Raiders an easy ride upfield, and Joel Monaghan scores his second try after some fast passing out wide puts him in plenty of space. Todd Carney misses another difficult conversion attempt.
Canberra Raiders 20-14

57 min: The Raiders gain 75 metres on their first set after the restart. Some of the Dragons look like they're still on their halftime breaks.

59 min: Todd Carney misses another 40/20 by just a matter of inches.

60 min: The Dragons suddenly fire up and Jason Nightingale nearly grabs a third try but Joel Monaghan is on hand to clean up.

64 min: VIDEO REF - possible Dragons try ...

64 min: NO TRY - Josh Morris kicks infield after a half-break down the sideline and the ball only just beats Rangi Chase over the Canberra dead ball line.

68 min: Jamie Soward tries a chip-and-chase that finds plenty of space but the ball takes a nasty bounce away from all the chasers and the Raiders come up with the ball.

71 min: The Dragons defence holds out consecutive attacking sets from the Raiders. It doesn't look like the home team is thinking about a one-pointer just yet.

72 min: ON REPORT - Lincoln Withers, for a late and high-ish tackle on Jamie Soward. The Dragons are in an excellent attacking position now thanks to the penalty.

74 min: Rangi Chase puts a grubber into the Raiders in-goal and takes a dive, so the Dragons all stand around and wait for a penalty. Meanwhile Bronx Goodwin picks the ball up close to the dead ball line and runs back into the field of play with ease.

75 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Canberra Raiders
Todd Carney tries to snap a field goal but it's charged down by the Dragons defence.
Canberra Raiders 20-14

76 min: Jason Nightingale decides to kick ahead from halfway on only the second tackle - not the brightest of decisions.

78 min: Rangi Chase tries a chip-and-chase that nearly comes off but is undone by another wicked bounce.

79 min: FIELD GOAL Canberra Raiders
Todd Carney adds a field goal, and the Raiders will take the two Premiership points here tonight.
Canberra Raiders 21-14

80 min: Todd Carney slices through the Dragons defence but can't quite link up with Terry Campese following through.

FULLTIME: Canberra Raiders 21 St George Illawarra Dragons 14

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