The Canberra Raiders have fallen 26-0 to the North Queensland Cowboys tonight at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.

North Queensland opened the scoring through a line break on the left edge and centre Abigail Roache found the line in the first minute. Cowboy’s hooker Emma Manzelmann converted for a 6-0 lead.

Some grinding defence, including two-line dropouts put the Raiders on the backfoot, but Canberra weathered the storm.

The Raiders almost went the distance with seven minutes to go in the half as Elise Simpson took ankles up the left sideline, running sixty metres before being dragged into touch.

But it was the Cowboys who would claim the next try as a tackle bust from Jasmine Peters gave her space to work with and she ran down the middle to score. The missed kick put North Queensland up by ten.

An offside error during a try saving effort from the Raiders unfortunately results in the Cowboys being awarded a shot from in front which five-eighth Rosie Kelly slots to extend the lead to 12-0 just on half time.

Hard fought defence from both teams in the opening second half saw both teams hold their ground for the first ten minutes.

But three minutes later the Cowboys would get their third try as a linebreak from centre Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell would put Abigail Roache over for a double. The conversion from Manzellmann was unsuccessful and the Cowboys led by 16.

In the 52nd minute, Krystal Blackwell took off on the outside of the Raider’s line and ran the distance to put the Cowboys up 20-0. 

Four minutes later, the Cowboys go the distance again as Ormond-Maunsell links up with Krystal Blackwell on the inside to give North Queensland another. Manzelmann is successful this time and the Cowboys are 26-0.

This 58th minute effort sealed the game and the Raiders finished second best this Saturday. Canberra will look ahead to their clash with the Knights next weekend.