Dragons hold off Raiders in wild conditions

The treacherous conditions were on show early with Jamal Fogarty failing to find touch off an early yardage penalty.

The video officials were brought into the contest shortly after with Luciano Leilua steaming through in pursuit of a Lyhkan King-Togia grubber only for Kaeo Weekes to put it dead.

The Dragons, who enjoyed the lion’s share of the early ball and territory, struck first through Mathew Feagai who took in a King-Togia pass and fended away from his opposite to dive over in the northwestern corner.

Kyle Flanagan nailed the conversion from just inside the touchline to give the home side a 6-0 advantage.

The Raiders lost their Captain’s Challenge 15 minutes in attempting to overturn an on-field call of knock-on as Xavier Savage was being dragged to the sideline.

Emre Guler went agonisingly close to extending the Dragons’ lead a quarter of the way in off a Damien Cook grubber but was unable to scoop the wet football up cleanly.

The Raiders crafted a response off it through Matthew Timoko who wrestled his way to the line down the right-hand corridor.

Hudson Young was called upon to hold the ball for Fogarty’s conversion attempt in a show of the evening’s wild conditions, but it went wide as the scoreline remained 6-4 the way of the hosts.

The Dragons fired in a successful Captain’s Challenge to overturn a knock-on call as they again attacked the Canberra line.

The video officials ruled an illegal strip with Flanagan stepping up to add a penalty goal from in front and make it 8-4.

Flanagan was hit late on a clearing kick the next set paving the way for the No.7 to knock over another penalty goal from in front and extend the lead out to 10-4.

Timoko poured through a hole the Raiders’ next attacking chance to dive over for his second and lock things up at 10-apiece heading into the break.

Tyrell Sloan went close to putting the Dragons back on top only for Moses Suli’s late offload to go to ground.

Sloan knocked another Fogarty kick-for-touch back infield moments later to earn the Dragons more strong field position but the visitors held firm off it.

The Dragons hit the lead again with 24 minutes remaining thanks to Corey Allan who went over after Feagai shot through a hole and fashioned a well-timed offload to his supporting winger.

Flanagan remained a perfect four-from-four from the tee to give his side a 16-10 edge entering the final quarter of the night.

The Dragons lost their Captain’s Challenge their next set in an attempt to overturn a knock-on call as the Raiders went on the attack.

David Klemmer was placed on report moments later for a high shot which saw Ata Mariota leave the field for a HIA however the Raiders lost the ball off it to give the Dragons’ defensive line some relief.

With nine minutes on the clock, the Raiders were whistled for a ruck penalty from right in front of the uprights with Flanagan knocking over his fifth goal of the contest to extend the advantage beyond a converted try.

Fogarty produced a perfect, touch-finding kick-off to give the Raiders a chance on the attack, but the Red V were able to hold them at bay with David Klemmer forcing a big error.

A Dragons yardage error handed them another chance however with Fogarty kicking a penalty goal from in front off it to cut the deficit back to a half-dozen with less than four minutes to play.

The Raiders had a late chance to snatch it but an obstruction call put an end to any chances of a fightback as the Dragons held on for a brave home win.