All the latest updates from week five of the NSWRL's major competitions.
Raiders hold off Thunderbolts in 70-point shootout
The Canberra Raiders have survived a late surge from Victoria Thunderbolts to secure an entertaining 40-30 win in Round Five of the Jersey Flegg Cup in Wagga Wagga on Saturday.
After the Raiders entered the halftime break with a seemingly unassailable 22-point lead, then scored an early second half try to extend the margin, an unlikely turnaround by the visitors was nearly enough to spoil the party.
Victoria kicked off the scoring through Ron Tooala in the opening moments, but that was last points they would earn for another 46 minutes as Canberra crossed for five unanswered tries before halftime – scored by five-eighth Thomas Casey, fullback Rayden Burns, back-rower Kaden Williams, captain Sione Moala and centre Steven Numambo.
Casey immediately crossed for his second just after the break and 10 minutes later Victoria began to return serve with five tries of their own.
Thunderbolts centre Ammaron Gudgeon replied in the 47th minute, soon followed by winger Tiraa Ua, hooker Cole Geyer, Tooala for his double, and No.3 Lodoviko Cokanauto.
Suddenly with seven minutes left the scores were deadlocked at 32-all with the Raiders one man down after a Caleb Tohi sin bin, yet Canberra still found a way to victory after two late tries for winger Josh Smith, and Burns again.
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Reds remain unbeaten with third win on the trot
Glebe Dirty Reds have continued their winning run to start the Ron Massey Cup season after defeating Ryde Eastwood Hawks 36-24 in their Round Four clash at Henson Park.
Glebe opened proceedings in the third minute through winger Michael Pearsall, courtesy of a well worked shift to left edge from 10 metres out.
The Hawks hit back in next to no time with a try to hooker Tjaden McLean that was converted by fullback Jamin Williams to level the score-line, yet the Dirty Reds quickly regained the lead with their second four-pointer.
Glebe then pushed the margin out to 10 points as back-rower Mason McCarthy crossed, and despite Ryde Eastwood’s best efforts to stay in the game when lock Samual Radova crashed over the line, Glebe’s Pearsall scored in the corner for his second just minutes after. The home side went into halftime with a 20-12 lead.
The second half was much the same as the first with both sides trading four-pointers throughout, but the Hawks couldn’t overcome the two-try buffer as the Dirty Reds came away with the 12-point win.
All other Round Four matches in the Ron Massey Cup have been postponed to a later date.
Scorpions hand Goannas first defeat of the year
The Macquarie Scorpions have secured a 20-10 win over Cessnock Goannas in Round Three of the Denton Engineering Cup.
While the Goanaas looked ominous coming into the matchup after back-to-back wins – including a 28-point Round Two victory – to start their campaign, the Scorpions’ four-try effort was enough to earn the win, which also their first of the year.
No.18 Kurt Aldridge was one of the standouts for Macquarie with a brace of tries.
Centre Royce Geoffrey and winger Callan Briggs also scored, while former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldog Kerrod Holland converted two from four.
Cessnock scored their two tries through winger Josh Cagney and second-rower Jayden Young.
Click here for more Denton Engineering Cup results.
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