Raiders hang on against decimated Roosters

The Raiders have claimed back-to-back wins against teams in the top four after downing the Roosters 14-12 in dramatic fashion.

With the win to the Knights earlier in the day realistically ending Canberra's hopes of finals this year, it was an eventful opening half away from the football with injuries to key players on both sides. 

Raiders fullback Jordan Rapana was ruled out of the match early with a fractured cheekbone, while Sam Walker and Brandon Smith were both assisted from the field with a lower leg injuries. Walker suffered a suspected ACL tear, while it was a suspected knee injury that ruled Smith out. 

On the football front, the first points of the game came via a Roosters penalty goal taken by Luke Keary, but it was the departing Elliott Whitehead who scored the opening try, powering his way over the line. 

Whitehead was then in amongst the scoring again as the Raiders went further in front - but this time turning provider as he got an offload away to Simi Sasagi to run in and score to extend their lead. 

The Canberra skipper however finished the half in the sin bin for his tackle on Smith, but the Roosters were not able to score with their one-player advantage. 

After the break, the Roosters nearly went over for the opening try of the half, but Angus Crichton was unable to handle the pass to get him over, and instead, it was the Raiders who went further in front.

The try came after Xavier Savage streaked away to score, despite it being the Roosters who were on the attack. However, a messy play which resulted in the ball on the deck saw the speedster swoop on the ball to add to his try scoring tally. 

The Roosters were finally over for their first try of the afternoon after the received a penalty for Whitehead lashing out with his boot for the ball while it was in the hands of Crichton - which resulted in him being sent to the sin bin for a second time during the match - and this time they made the possession count.

The home side got the ball out to their try-scoring winger Daniel Tupou who made no mistake, with Keary's conversion narrowing the scores to 14-6. 

The Roosters were putting concerted pressure on the Raiders to try and add to their tally, but the Raiders defended for grim life on their own line to not give up another try. 

In the final two minutes, with tempers bubbling to the surface and Keary slotted another goal after the Raiders gave up a penalty to bring the scores to 14-8.

This proved a sensible play, with the Roosters able to score a try via Tupou with the siren sounding in the background, giving Keary the chance to take the game to golden point with a successful conversion. 

However, the attempt when just to the left of the uprights and the Raiders hung on for their 14-12 win.