The Bulldogs have survived a thrilling late Raiders to surge to win a 14-10 classic in Ricky Stuart’s 300th game as Canberra’s coach.
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MATCH CENTRE: Raiders vs Bulldogs teams, scores, videos, updates
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Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey made an outstanding game-winning tackle on Raiders half Ethan Sanders just a metre out from the tryline.
Tracey also had a try, 188 running metres, two line breaks and set up the Bulldogs’ second try with a long-range run.
“He was the best player on the field,” Matty Johns said about Tracey’s performance.
After a Jacob Preston try in the 72nd minute gave the Bulldogs an eight-point lead, it appeared the Raiders’ hopes were dashed.
They weren’t done yet though, scoring just a couple of minutes later when winger Sav Tamale finished off for his second on the back of some lovely lead up work from Hudson Young and Ethan Strange.
Canberra had another chance late and it was the Raiders’ Round 1 hero Sanders with ball in hand but his bid for another matchwinner was thwarted by Tracey with 40 seconds on the clock.
The Raiders started fast, opening the scoring inside the first five minutes.
It was a bit of razzle dazzle from the Green Machine to cross the stripe.
On the fifth, Sanders did well to keep it alive while being tackled, giving it onto Young who threw a circus pass around an opponent’s back before Kaeo Weekes produced a basketball pass over the top to Tamale.
The winger did well to beat two defenders en route to the try line.
The Bulldogs had the perfect answer just moments later.
They set up Stephen Crichton running one-on-one at Sanders and the Dogs captain beat that tackle before finding an open Tracey.
“Class with a capital C from Crichton,” Andrew Voss said.
The Bulldogs now enter next weekend’s game against the Knights unbeaten while the Raiders drop to 1-2 to start the season.
BIG HITS
Star Raiders duo in hot water
The Raiders could be without star prop Josh Papali’i for some time after he was sent to the sin bin for a nasty looking high tackle on Sam Hughes.
“There’s trouble here. There is trouble here… direction went out the window from big Papa,” Andrew Voss said in commentary.
Papali’i caught Hughes high which sparked a small fracas.
Later in the game, Raiders captain Joe Tapine was also placed on report for a high tackle.
Tapine’s shoulder collected Harry Hayes high although the force wasn’t as hard as Papali’i’s hit.
Is Tapine in trouble for high shot? | 00:24
Hot Tamale
Raiders’ winger Tamale continued to show why he is one of the hottest young players in the game with a Brian To’o like performance.
Along with scoring Canberra’s only two tries, Tamale ran for a whopping 238m from 29 runs.
– Dave Lyall (NewsWire)
Crichton’s happy hunting ground
In the corresponding clash at GIO Stadium in round 10 last year Canberra led 20-0 at halftime before a Crichton masterclass saw the Dogs storm back and win 32-20. It was the Raiders’ only home loss of the season.
This time it was a piece of Crichton brilliance that set up Canterbury’s first try. The Dogs’ skipper also kicked the two penalty goals that proved the difference.
– Dave Lyall (NewsWire)
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