Jersey Flegg: Dragons go down in nation’s capital

It proved a disastrous start for the Dragons with Canberra taking advantage of an opening set error to draw first blood as Tim Carson snuck his way over in the left corner to make it 4-0.

The hosts went straight back onto the attack the next set with Keahn Skipps finding space down the right-hand flank and sending a kick back on the inside only for Kade Reed to produce a needed cover effort for the Dragons.

An absentminded error out of acting half gifted the Raiders another opportunity at the Dragons line and Regan Carr obliged powering his way over through the left-hand corridor to make it a 10-point game.

The Dragons defence muscled up off the corresponding kick-off with Peckham-Harris and Jarrah Treweek combining to force an error, but the hosts held firm off it.

Canberra threatened to add to their lead the next set with Carson streaking down the left touchline only for Wes Pring to pull off a superb cover tackle and force the ball loose to earn his side possession back.

Peckham-Harris showcased his defensive prowess again moments later leading the kick chase and forcing a Raiders knock-on with a dumping tackle.

Saifiti Junior Saifiti looked to have nabbed the visitors’ first points off it only to have had his boot dragged into touch prior to grounding the ball.

Another four-pointer went begging for the Red V with Peckham-Harris throwing a pinpoint cut-out to a flying Jesse Williams who, in his return from an injury layoff, crafted a kick back on the inside to his supporting five-eighth only for the official to observe a bobble in his attempt to scoop it up.

The squad’s luck finally turned on the other side of the half-hour mark with Reed slithering and stepping his way into the backfield, drawing the fullback, and hitting halves partner Peckham-Harris back on the inside to score.

Reed’s superb opening forty persisted with the classy No.7 again showing off his running game to put his side back on the front foot before coolly sending Jarrah Treweek through a hole later in the set to tie things up at 10-apiece.

The Dragons managed to take a 16-10 lead into the intermission with Peckham-Harris bouncing out of numerous tackles and earning a quick play-the-ball to lay the foundation for hooker Isaiah Fagalilo to burrow his way over out of dummy-half.

Treweek produced a well-timed one-on-one strip to earn his side an attacking chance early in the second stanza and the visitors’ hot run of attack continued off it.

Reed manufactured a perfect cross-field kick which Lyric Craft-Te Moananui leapt over his opposite to snatch out of the air and get to the turf for his seventh try of 2025.

A drop off the kick-off handed Canberra a much-needed opportunity and they obliged with fullback Mutua Brown catching the Dragons out down the short side to slam the ball down.

The Dragons were able to respond however off the back of a forced dropout with Pring using his pace to sweep into space down the right-hand corridor and move the ball on to Saifiti who went over untouched in the corner for his first try at Jersey Flegg level as the lead grew back beyond a converted try.

The back-and-forth nature of the second half continued with front rower Jake Clydsdale barging his way over after a wave of pressure to bring it back to 24-22.

Canberra hit the lead moments later with Skipps crafting a dazzling individual try in which he beat multiple defenders and outpaced the cover to put the hosts ahead by four entering the home stretch.

Jalen Afamasaga and Brown linked to create the Raiders’ sixth try of the afternoon and send them further ahead as the seconds continued to tick away.

Their late burst saw them nab another try off an unsuccessful short kick-off with Carr muscling his way over for his second to ice it for the Raiders.

Craft-Te Moananui sped his way over for a consolation try prior to the full-time hooter off a Reed short ball to notch his second of the afternoon.