Match Report: NRLW Round 3 vs Raiders

Wests Tigers have fallen narrowly short in a grandstand finish in the nation’s capital, suffering a 28-22 loss to the Raiders at GIO Stadium.

Round 3 - Round 3 - Sunday 6 Aug

home Team

Raiders

5th Position

away Team

Wests Tigers

4th Position

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

After climbing back from being down by twelve points in the opening stages, a late fightback in the dying stages fell short as Canberra Raiders held on to secure victory at home.

The hosts hit the front in their second set of the game through Ashleigh Quinlan when the halfback grounded the ball after Pauline Piliae-Rasabale failed to cleanly diffuse the kick in goal.

Hollie-Mae Dodd extended Raiders’ lead minutes later, slicing through Wests Tigers goal line defence untouched.

Wests Tigers struck back after withstanding a mountain of Canberra possession. Skipper Kezie Apps hit and spun her way free from defenders and offloaded to Leianne Tufuga for the side’s first.

Apps then backed up her try assist, dragging multiple Raiders defenders across the line to draw level after being down 12-0 in the match’s opening stages.

Dummy-half Ebony Prior gave her side a scare when she left the field with an ankle injury, though thankfully returned.

It wasn’t said the same for co-captain Botille Vette-Welsh as she failed her Head Injury Assessment late in the first half and was ruled out.

Brutal defence from either side forced errors which led to some back-and-forth football, leaving either side unable to crack the 12-all deadlock entering the half.

Canberra re-captured and then furthered the lead in quick succession from the break. Zahara Temara caught the overlap out wide to send Shakiah Tungai over before Monalisa Soliola too went over untouched the ensuing set.

Kezie Apps was sinbinned for holding on too long after an inspirational chase down effort on Tungai.

Raiders welcomed the one player advantage as Cheyelle Robins-Reti busted through straight after.

Wests Tigers continued to fight in the absence of both captains with scrambling defence as Tufuga kept their hopes alive, scoring two tries in the final five minutes of the match to set up a grandstand finish.

A promising set of six put Brett Kimmorley’s side in good attacking field position to level, but it wasn’t to be as Canberra held on to secure a narrow six-point victory.

Wests Tigers are on the road again next weekend when they take on North Queensland Cowboys at Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane.

Round 4 - Round 4 - Saturday 12 Aug

home Team

Cowboys

9th Position

away Team

Wests Tigers

4th Position

Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane

Match broadcasters:

Coach Presser: NRLW Round 3 vs Raiders

Match Highlights: NRLW Round 3 vs Raiders

Late Changes: NRLW Round 3 vs Raiders

Match Preview: NRLW Round 3 vs Raiders

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