League: NRL weekend wrap

Eels hold off charging Roosters

Parramatta blew a huge half-time lead but managed to hold on for a much-needed 22-20 win over the Sydney Roosters in their round 12 National Rugby League clash at Parramatta Stadium yesterday afternoon.

The Eels' first win in five matches almost failed to eventuate when the Roosters crossed for three tries in 13 second-half minutes to ensure a nail-biting finish to the match.

Parramatta somehow prevailed though to give Jason Taylor his first win as caretaker coach.

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Dragons turn tables to bury Knights

St George Illawarra exacted revenge on the Knights in style on Friday night, disposing of the top-of-the-table side 38-12 in the round 12 NRL clash in Newcastle.

Just seven weeks ago, the Knights thumped the Dragons 54-6 in a nine-try romp, but all that was forgotten Friday as the Dragons took their revenge.

The visitors scored seven tries to two in the one-sided affair, including doubles to forward Corey Payne and half-back Ben Hornby, to lift themselves into the top eight.

The Knights simply had no answers for the Dragons in the first half, as the visitors piled on the first four tries of the game to race out to a 20-0 lead before Andrew Johns finally got his side on the board one minute out from the break.

But while that try may have given Michael Hagan's side a sniff of hope, any chance of a come-from-behind win was firmly snuffed out when St George scored the first three tries of the second half to shut Newcastle out of the game.

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Raiders nail another golden victory

Five-eighth Todd Carney kicked a 40-metre field goal deep into extra time to give Canberra an upset 15-14 victory over National Rugby League leaders North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday evening.

The Raiders caught the Cowboys with an Origin hangover and had a 14-8 lead until Johnathan Thurston scored in the corner with 17 minutes remaining in the match.

Thurston's sideline conversion levelled the scores but a bevy of mistakes in the frantic final stages cost either side the victory in regulation time.

The first period of golden point time came and went before Carney stepped up to become the latest hero for the Raiders, who beat Penrith 21-20 in round four when captain Clinton Schifcofske nailed the one-pointer.

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Broncos run wild against Bulldogs

Captain Darren Lockyer described it as "grinding" but Brisbane put on one of their best attacking performances of the season in beating Canterbury 25-6 at Lang Park on Saturday evening.

The triumph, the Broncos' eighth from 11 games this season, put them outright top of the National Rugby League ladder after victory over a Bulldogs outfit whose poor handling contributed to their first loss in five matches.

A scintillating first 15 minutes from the home side saw them pile on tries to Tame Tupou, Shaun Berrigan and Darius Boyd, and the visitors never recovered.
The Broncos ' six Origin players shone while the Bulldogs' four looked as if they would have rather been elsewhere.

Lockyer was outstanding, scoring a try and playing a hand in several others while also slotting a field goal before being benched by Wayne Bennett.

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Prince leads rout of Rabbitohs

Scott Prince reminded Queensland selectors of his credentials, crossing for three tries as National Rugby League reigning premiers Wests crushed South Sydney 44-4 at the Olympic stadium on Sunday.

Prince reacted to his omission from State of Origin I with a dominant display against the Rabbitohs, who sunk to a new low with their 11th straight loss of the season.

The Tigers led 18-0 at half-time before turning on a demolition job in the second half, finishing with eight tries in all.

The result snapped a two-match losing run for Wests and moved them into 10th position on the ladder but just two points out of the top eight.

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Storm's Cronk steps up to nail Panthers

Half-back Cooper Cronk slotted a field goal with 47 seconds remaining in extra time to give Melbourne a 17-16 win over Penrith in round 12 National Rugby League action on Sunday.

The last-gasp triumph ensured the Storm retained a share of the competition lead with Brisbane, although the Broncos remain top on points difference.

It was the second golden point match of the weekend following Canberra's 15-14 win over North Queensland on Saturday, and was the third occasion Penrith have gone to extra time this season.

Previously they beat St George Illawarra 13-12 in round two before going down 21-20 to Canberra in round four.

Cronk, Cameron Smith and Steve Turner had already attempted drop goals before Cronk finally achieved success from 35 metres out in the second period of extra time.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA