Raiders trip up and do not maintain their recent form but the 33 – 19 loss to Brothers will be turned around with a win against JCU this coming weekend.

Not one Raider is happy with last weekends result because as discussed after the game it came down to one half of rugby the worst half played this season and having said that it was 19 all with fifteen minutes remaining.

Not executing the game plan with ball in hand at the back end of the half saw careless errors lead to turn over ball in broken play which inhibited cover or scrambling defence being effective and the Raiders paid a big price; a game they controlled in the first half was lost.

Leading 13 – 7 at half time the Raiders had dominated much off the play in first forty minutes and Brothers were fortunate that the score was not far worse for them but they scrambled well and even with the penalty count not in their favour (23 – 5 by the end of the game) stopped the raiders converting possession into points.

Grae Gilbert opened the scoring with a penalty and on the back of solid and dominant forward play at the line out and scrum the Raiders pressured Brothers line relentlessly with Adam Calcraft scoring two tries from halfback , both unconverted.

With a couple of key players in the backline away with work commitments and a few on field niggling injuries carried into the second half, the lads did not at the end of the day see this as an excuse to a man they knew they let it slide with the worst 20 minutes of rugby played and probably the worst half of rugby played this year.

On the other side brothers did lift and with endless turnovers by the raiders and faltering scrambling defence scored to late converted tries to end the game victors 33 – 19

All focus is on training for this week’s game at home against JCU, with four new additions to the squad on Tuesday night at training the Raiders are working at redeeming themselves this weekend.

Come and enjoy some great rugby its always a big occasion between the two rugby clubs. Reserve grade is at 2.30 and the raiders take the field at 4.00