The NYC Newcastle Knights lost 46-28 to the Canberra Raiders at Hunter Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Starting the game on fire, the young Knights scored two early tries only to be reeled in by a disciplined Raiders outfit.
Despite the result Brock Lamb was classy for the home side, getting two try-assists from kicks and two from cut-out passes.
Former Maitland Pickers winger Matt Soper-Lawler was also impressive out wide, using his impressive speed and athleticism to score a brace.
It was following two scrums early in the match that the Knights picked up their first points, Matt Faitotoa finding space on the left edge with some help from Lamb. Lamb added the extras, and five minutes later Raiders hooker Zac Woolford punted the ball out on the full to give the Knights another golden opportunity.
At the end of the set the red and blues looked to have missed their chance when the ball was thrown to nobody, but Lamb was quickest to react, scooping it up and twisting around to place a kick for Soper-Lawler to score.
In the following set the Raiders struck back, Woolford powering over from dummy-half to score his side’s first points. The hooker then missed from the tee, leaving the score at 10-4.
With 23 minutes played the Knights were over again, Soper-Lawler picking up his second when Lamb again came up with a great kick. Lamb added the extras from an acute angle as well, but three minutes later the Raiders were over again when their five-eighth put prop William Samuel through a hole.
Three minutes before half time the Raiders pulled even when a break down the right flank saw halfback Zeik Foster pop up with the ball to score.
Moments later Foster grabbed his second, Woolford converting on both counts to give the Raiders a 22-16 lead at half time.
Five minutes into the second half the visitors continued their dominance when Lachlan Lewis dived over near the uprights.
Soon after the Knights pulled themselves back into the game when Braden Robson offloaded for utility forward Ryan Glanville to bounce out of a tackle and score on the right. Lamb converted to make 28-22, but seven minutes later the Raiders restored their lead when Lewis was quickest to react to a kick.
The penultimate nail was put in the coffin eight minutes from time, fullback Tre Williams snatching an offload on the halfway line to run 50 metres and score beneath the posts.
Second rower Kalani Going finished off the scoring for the Raiders with two minutes left on the clock, Williams converting from out wide.
The Knights weren’t done yet though, Lamb grabbing another try-assist at the death for Kainoa Gudgeon to plant the ball down in the corner. Lamb converted from the sideline, the final score 42-28.
