Raiders take down Rabbitohs

The Canberra Raiders have made it two emphatic victories in as many weeks, running out convincing 34-18 winners over a disappointing South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday night.

Having trounced the Warriors in Round 11 the Raiders burst out of the blocks with two early tries but had to settle for a two-point advantage at the break after a high-scoring opening stanza.

But the Raiders, minus NSW playmaker Terry Campese, produced a dominant second-half performance scoring three unanswered tries after the break to put the contest beyond doubt.

It was all Canberra in the opening minutes and they converted pressure into points with tries to Joel Monaghan and David Milne setting up a 10-0 lead.

A Josh McCrone 40-20 put the Raiders on the attack and Monaghan made the most of the early field position when he barged over in the corner.

Rabbitohs winger Fetuli Talanoa did well to get his arm under the ball but while video referee Phil Cooley was unsure, Ashley Klein had no hesitation pointing to the spot when the decision was sent back downstairs.

There was no doubt about the Raiders' second try as Glen Buttriss scooted out of dummy-half before linking with Marc Herbert who straightened to send Milne over untouched in the ninth minute.

The Bunnies hit back four minutes later when Chris Sandow and John Sutton combined to put Luke Capewell over in the corner and trim the deficit to a converted try.

After an early avalanche of four pointers the contest developed into an arm wrestle before Nathan Merritt crossed in controversial circumstances on the half hour.

Merritt won the race to a towering cross-kick from Sutton but Canberra's Jarrod Croker appeared to be impeded by Beau Champion attempting to defuse the dangerous situation.

But this time the man upstairs had no hesitation pressing the green button as the Bunnies levelled things up at 10 apiece.

The tries kept coming as first the Raiders and then the Rabbitohs crossed before half-time, but it was the visitors who led 16-14 at the break.

After an early scare the Raiders increased their lead when Dane Tilse took advantage of some lazy defence to cross eight minutes in.

Marc Herbert's conversion made it 22-14 to the visitors.

Momentum stayed with the visitors who continued to be the more adventurous side with ball in hand.

And they were rewarded for their enterprise in the 61st minute when Tom Learoyd-Lahrs completed a sweeping attacking movement to score the Raiders' fifth try of the night.

Herbert again added the extras to take an unassailable 14-point lead.

Nigel Plum's barging effort eight minutes from full-time put the contest beyond doubt as the Rabbitohs faithful began trudging towards the nearest exit.

Canberra Raiders 34
Tries: Monaghan, Milne, Herbert, Tilse, Learoyd-Lahrs, Plum
Goals: Herbert 5

South Sydney Rabbitohs 18
Tries: Talanoa 2, Capewell, Merritt
Goals: Luke
@ ANZ Stadium, 1/06/09.