Raiders run riot against under strength Kangaroos

Moreton Bay Raiders continued their good form in the Rugby League Brisbane Open 3 North men's competition, with a comprehensive 58-12 win over North Lakes Kangaroos.

With 10 local juniors in the Moreton Bay side, the Raiders are reeling in success, having had a strong recruitment drive in the off season that has seen many of their senior players returning to the club after a long hiatus.

The visitors were first to post first points of the afternoon though through Kangaroos hooker Vili Muaiava, who scurried out of dummy half to score beside the sticks.

Interestingly, it would be the last points the Kangaroos would see for some time with the Raiders piling on an avalanche of tries.

In the eighth minute, Moreton Bay posted their first try of the afternoon through fullback Jordan Bulmer, who sliced his way through to score.

The Raiders big men were troubling the Kangaroos in defence and with the home sides forward pack paving the way, it created an opportunity for centre Steve Emery to go in and score out wide.

Raiders Khalib Hill then spotted a gap from 10 metres out catching the Kangaroos defence napping racing in untouched.

Another Raiders set play right before halftime saw the home side go into the break leading 26-6, when centre Matt Costello fended off two would be Kangaroos defenders to score.

After some one-way traffic in the first half, to their credit, North Lakes did come out breathing fire in the second stanza.

Five-eighth Bronson Blakemore and captain Viki Nati were superb in a losing side.

However, it didn’t take long for the Raiders juggernaut to continue when in the 38th minute hard working Brandon Hardwick crashed his way over beside the sticks.

With the Kangaroos constantly on the back foot in defence, they hardly saw any ball courtesy of the continual Raiders onslaught.

The home side again shifted the ball out wide and found winger Cameron Mukulec, who slid in for another Raiders four pointer.

But just as the Kangaroos started to find their mojo through captain Nati and second rower Jake Dwyer, the Raiders scored what was arguably the try of the game.

Raiders custodian Bulmer’s second try of the afternoon was a cracker.

The fullback put in a superb chip and chase for himself that bounced perfectly into his hands.

The speedy number one then stepped around his opposite number to cross right beside the sticks.

Moreton Bay hooker Moore’s second try of the afternoon also brought up the Raiders' half-century, when he took three Kangaroos defenders with him over the line.

The Kangaroos did score a super try of their own in the 67th minute through fullback Elton Connors, who put in a chip and chase to score under the posts.

The home side did have the last say however, when Joshua Ka waltzed in for the easiest tries to round off what was a hard day at the office for the Kangaroos.