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National Rugby League round-22: Raiders vs. Panthers

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NRL round-22: Raiders vs. Panthers
In the Monday night affair the Raiders welcomed the Panthers to Canberra Stadium in the final game of round 22 of the National Rugby League.
The Raiders were hoping to get the first two points in what is going to be a difficult attempt at the final play-off spot. The Panthers were hoping to snag the victory in order to become the lone second place side, and keep pace with the first place with the Dragons.
Recap
The Panthers opened an impressive lead over the Raiders in the first half, but seemed to let their success go to their heads in the second stanza. In the final frame the Raiders wasted no time getting back in the game, taking the lead and defeating the Panthers in an impressive 30-26 come-from-behind win.
The Raiders Joel Monaghan opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and Jarod Croker added his first conversion on the day to give the Canberra side an early 6-0 lead.
The Panthers responded in the 16th minute when Kevin Kingston crossed the line and Michael Gordon slotted home the conversion to tie it up.
The two sides were well matched early, as Josh Dugan dove across the line and Croker tallied another conversion. However, Frank Pritchard responded only two minutes later, and Gordon hit the conversion to keep the game tied at 12 in the 25th minute.
The Panthers then took over play. First Sam McKendry crossed the whitewash in the 28th minute, and then Brad Tighe in the 34th. Gordon would go on to hit two penalties in the 35th and 40th minutes to give the Panthers an alarming 26-12 lead at half.
The Raiders team talk during half-time worked wonders as they came storming out  of the gate with a Daniel Vidot try just two minutes after the break. Croker kept his strong day at the tee going by hitting the conversion and closing the lead to 26-18.
The Raiders were not done as Bronson Harrison scurried across the line for a try in the 51st minute, and after another Croker conversion the lead was now 26-24.
The Panthers were not able to counter any of the Raiders attacks and the home team recorded their third unanswered try from Terry Campese in the 65th minute.
The Croker conversion in the 67th minute was the final score of the game, and the Raiders were able to come-from-behind and defeat the Panthers at home, by a score of 30-26.
The Raiders got a full team effort from their side in the second half. However special mention has to be made of Croker who made all of his conversion down the stretch, and managed a team leading 147 all-run metres.
Similarly the kicker on the Panthers side, Gordon, accumulated a team high 197 all-run metres, and recorded three conversions.
Analysis
Although it will be very difficult for the Raiders to make the play-offs, sitting four points out of eighth place with only four matches to go, the win over a tough Panthers side is an important step in getting to the post-season. The Raiders will have an easier task next week as they take on the Bulldogs.
With the Panthers loss and the Dragons win, the Penrith side now finds themselves four points out of first in the table. They will have to re-group next week, when they take on the Wests Tigers.  

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