Raiders overpower Litchfield to retain Mitchell Russell Shield

PALMERSTON retained the Mitchell Russell Shield at Webber Park last night, coming from behind to beat Litchfield 18-12 in the best match of Round 1

Chris Wishart of the Palmerston Raiders tries to break a lunging tackle by the Bears' Dillan Vanderburg during the NRLNT Men's A Grade match betweem the Litchfield Bears and Palmerston Raiders at Fred's Pass. Pitcure: Felicity Elliott

PALMERSTON retained the Mitchell Russell Shield at Webber Park last night, coming from behind to beat Litchfield 18-12 in the best match of Round 1.

The Bears led by two points with 20 minutes to play, but a charge-down try from Raiders halfback Daniel Knight shifted the momentum, and from that point Palmerston closed the game out with class.

Daniel Keelan’s side took an 8-6 lead into the break after the teams traded tries in the first stanza.

A Brad Hansen penalty goal on the halftime siren handed Palmerston the buffer, but it was taken away 14 minutes into the second period through a superb solo try from Jason Tomes.

Collecting early ball on the right edge, the centre skipped his way past three would-be Palmerston defenders with silky footwork before muscling his way over the stripe.

The Raiders’ forwards worked relentlessly for the full 80 minutes, with Adam Hall and Phil Mati-Liefi providing the grunt, and Shane Smith and Lachlan Bryan go-forward on the edges. They won the power battle midway through the second half and it proved the catalyst for victory.

Bears pivot David Jacobson was forced to boot the ball from within his own 30 metre line, off the back of a slow play-the-ball, and Knight snatched the opportunity to strike.

The half charged it down before regathering and darting across the stripe.

The Raiders then closed out the game through an 80m team try.

The ball went through four separate sets of hands before Clint Chettle eventually touched down in the corner.

Notwithstanding, Litchfield can take heart from its performance. Playing without reigning Frank Johnson Medallist Matt Goodfellow, Kyle Ramage filled in at halfback admirably, while new recruit Sam McCauley looked the goods out of dummy-half.

Meanwhile at Anula Oval, Brothers beat the Northern Sharks 58-6.

The reigning premiers were forced to play the same outfit in both reserve and first grade, having lost most of their championship winning squad over the off season.

The Brethren took a 16-0 at into the break after dropping a lot of first half ball. Callum Mayo and Daniel Good both crossed for doubles in the second period while Rodney Barba finished with 14 points.

Brothers’ small pack was led by Angus Warhurst, Eddie Wosomo and former winger Josh Saveka, who coach Moses Wigness shifted into the second row.

In Katherine, Luke Kelly’s homecoming wasn’t enough to get the Cowboys home against Nightcliff, who won 50-16.