Match Details
Match Date	26th Apr, 2003
Opponent	Canberra
Result	Loss 22-26
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Braith Anasta
Venue	Canberra (Stadium)
Crowd	19,372
Referee	Paul Simpkins

The Canberra Raiders proved themselves worthy leaders of the National Rugby League with an inspired 26-22 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

Raiders fullback Clinton Schifcofske scored two tries and stood out as the player of the match.

The clash unfolded as a titanic battle, with the scores locked at 12-12 at half-time.

But despite some early mistakes that led to Bulldogs tries, Canberra nudged past the visitors in the second half for their sixth consecutive win.

Canberra now stands four competition points ahead of its closest rivals.

All four Bulldogs tries were scored directly from Raiders' mistakes, but as the Bulldogs threatened to destroy Canberra's perfect start to the season, Raiders skipper Simon Woolford crossed to level the scores at half-time.

The determined Raiders grabbed the winning try with Schifcofske setting up replacement Mark McLinden.

After the match, a disappointed Bulldogs captain Braith Anasta described the Raiders as definite premiership contenders.

"It was a good game of footy but I'm pretty shattered. They played too good for us," he conceded. "They were getting quick play the balls on us, and we were just on the back foot too much.

"We'd score, they'd score, we'd score, they'd score. We just let them in the match too much and they took advantage of it."

"After that game, I think they're definitely title contenders this year. They didn't just get to where they are through luck, they've done it through hard work and good football and they're going to be very tough to beat.'

Raider halfback Brad Drew said his side was happy to sneak away with the win.

"It was a good effort out there from all the boys tonight," he said. "We probably went away from the game plan a little bit but it's still good that we can bounce back and get a win under our belt."

Canberra, with six wins from six games this season, is closing in on the club's best starting record of nine wins.

And with the Raiders playing South Sydney and Melbourne Storm in the coming weeks, the record could well be on the way out.

But Drew said the players were taking it one game at a time.

"It's probably something we won't speak about," he said. "We've just got to make sure that we're ready to go each week."

Source: www.abc.net.au

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