Raiders make it three on the trot as Dragons denied by controversial call

The Raiders have won three in a row after the NRLW newcomers snuck past the Dragons in a golden point thriller.

The Raiders have won three games in a row after sneaking home in golden point against the Dragons. Picture; Tim Allsop/Getty Images

A Zahara Temara field goal in golden point has helped the Raiders to a thrilling 19-18 win over the Dragons who will be filthy about a controversial no try ruling in the second half.

Temara’s trusty right boot proved the difference in the first period of extra-time after her first attempt was charged down as Canberra made it three wins on the trot.

But Dragons fans will be furious that the game even went to golden point given they were denied what appeared to be a fair four-pointer.

Dragons coach Jamie Soward was furious with a couple of calls last week and his mood won’t improve after Teagan Berry was denied what seemed to be a perfectly legitimate try in the second half that would have cut the gap to eight points.

The fullback was held by three defenders and reached out to score but was penalised even though her arm never touched the ground.

Teagan Berry had another big game for the Dragons but was denied a crucial try in the second half that could have changed the result. Picture; Tim Allsop/Getty Images

It was a baffling call against St George Illawarra who opened the scoring through Bobbi Law but inexplicably let the kick-off find touch which led to three Canberra tries in eight minutes as their defensive switched off for the second week in a row.

Berry was again the best player on the field with a game-high 198 metres and a stunning try off a chip kick after she’d just saved a four-pointer at the other end.

“She should have had two tries,” Soward said.

“If it’s 20 metres back that way then the referee just goes back and says ‘held’.

“We lost so people will say ‘he whinges every week when they lose’.

“We went from 17 penalties (last week) and we had three penalties the whole game. We’ve gone from a really messy ruck with lots of penalties to something really small, but we’re still dirty.

“I should just keep quiet because I’m not on that much cash where I can spend $10,000.”

IT’S EASY BEING GREEN

Not even the bombed try of the season could stop the Raiders making it three wins on the trot as the NRLW newcomers continued their hot start.

The decision to expand the competition already looks to be a success, and it’s the Green Machine who are leading the way thanks to a couple of star recruits who were again outstanding in Wollongong.

Kerehitina Matua did all the hard work but dropped the ball over the line in the first half. Picture; Tim Allsop/Getty Images

Temara had the ball on a string in the first half as she nailed a 40/30 and three conversions, while superstar lock forward Simaima Taufa put in her entry for try of the year with a 50-metre effort which featured a brutal fend on Berry.

The 18-6 half-time lead could have been a lot more had they not had two tries disallowed, including a moment Kerehitina Matua will want to forget when she skittled several defenders but dropped the ball over the line.

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The most dramatic NRLW season on record is showing no signs of slowing down after Jasmine Peters crossed with two minutes to go to help the Cowboys steal a 16-12 win over the Wests Tigers.

It looked like the visitors had done enough to pick up their third win of the season when Pauline Piliae-Rasabale slotted a penalty goal for late contact on the kicker to put her side up 12-10 with 15 minutes to go.

The Tigers defended stoutly but a crucial error from rookie Rebecca Pollard gifted the Cowboys field position, with Peters diving over in the corner thanks to Tahlulah Tillett’s second try assist of the afternoon.

Sarah Togatuki put up huge numbers but it wasn’t enough to get the Wests Tigers over the line. Picture; Albert Perez/Getty Images

It was heartbreak for the Tigers who were without skipper Botille Vette-Welsh and have now dropped two games in a row despite a stunning performance from Sarah Togatuki who ran for 188 metres and busted six tackles in the front row.

Tillett and halves partner Kirra Dibb were brilliant in the battle of the NRLW newcomers, but it was Makenzie Weale who was the difference with 165 metres, 21 tackles, five tackle breaks and a try as the Cowboys bounced back from a big loss to Brisbane last week.

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The Broncos have held on for a nervy 22-12 win over the struggling Eels despite spending nine minutes with just 11 players on the field after they had two players sent to the sin bin for foul play.

Brisbane was in control the whole afternoon but ill-discipline threatened to bring them unstuck against the winless Eels when Brianna Clark and Jasmine Fogavini were sent from the field in the space of 60 seconds.

Clark was lucky not be sent off for a shoulder charge to the head of Abbi Church who was in the wars from the outset, while Fogavini will likely be charged for a nasty hip drop on Rueben Cherrington in the 51st minute.

The Eels crossed for one try with the numerical advantage and had another disallowed for a forward pass by Church when they had a huge overlap to the left.

The Broncos eventually made them pay when it was 13 on 13, and it was fitting that Mariah Denman in jersey No.13 was the one to seal the result with a soft try under the posts.

Elsie Albert faces another stint on the sidelines after she hurt her calf in her first game back from injury. Picture; Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

CALF CRISIS

Parramatta’s winless start to the season has taken another hit with star recruit Elsie Albert aggravating a calf injury in her first game for the club.

The PNG veteran missed the opening rounds of the season but looked really solid in her return before she was helped off just before half-time in extreme pain.

Albert did not return and had a big bag of ice on her injured calf in another huge blow to Parramatta’s middle which was already without the suspended Kennedy Cherrington.

There was a nice moment for Rueben Cherrington who snuck over for her first NRLW try, while Rachael Pearson came up with a stunning stop to deny Hayley Maddick who grounded the ball on the halfback’s hair bun.

WERNER’S SPECIAL MOMENT

Former bobsledder Ashleigh Werner had a debut to forget when she was sent off and then suspended for two games for biting in Brisbane’s opening game.

But she bounced back from the setback and made the most of her recall by opening the scoring on Saturday with a try that had her teammates in raptures.

It was a solid performance from Brisbane who always looked likely to win, with wrecking ball Mele Hufanga backing up last week’s four-try haul with another powerhouse try early in the second half.