In a tough, physical contest, the Canberra Raiders were forced to lick their wounds, suffering their first home NRLW loss at the hands of the Newcastle Knights.
Despite some early pressure from the Newcastle Knights – including a 40/30 – they were unable to score.
It would prove telling, however, as the Raiders would score first as Ash Quinlan looped a pass over the defenders that allowed Madison Bartlett to stroll over for the first try.
Bartlett’s second would prove slightly tougher as she initially offloaded to Cheyelle Robins-Reti before the centre found a gap, a pass, and Bartlett scurried over for her second.
Held scoreless in the first half but not to be outdone, the Knights grabbed first points in the second as Englishwoman Georgia Roche split the gap and powered over.
It would be Jesse Southwell’s turn to deliver a slick cut-out pass as she found Sheridan Gallagher out wide in the corner.
Southwell would then go it alone, dummying, evading defenders, and reaching out to score the match-winner.
Knights coach Ronald Griffiths praised his side’s ability to play for each other and support each other as a reason behind both the comeback and not conceding points in the second half.
“One thing with our team that we pride ourselves on is defensively to keep moving and to keep moving for each other and ultimately that’s why we didn’t concede any points in the second half,” Griffiths said.
Raiders coach Darren Borthwick believes his side lacks the polish when it comes to closing games.
“I think we are just lacking that little bit of experience in how to close a game out, and I think that’s what Newcastle did really well,” Borthwick said.
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