Canterbury rallied from a 28-10 half time deficit to get within two points of the Raiders, NRL leading tryscorer Nigel Vagana showing his class by scoring a wonderful hat trick.

But the Bulldogs couldn’t finish over the top of the Raiders, who were led by three tries from props Ryan O’Hara and Todd Payten.

Canberra are now in ninth position on the ladder, but are equal on 23 competition points with St George Illawarra and Melbourne.

The game finished on an unsavoury note, with distraught Bulldogs fans throwing bottles and debris on the field before full time.

The Raiders went at the Bulldogs from the outset, cruelly punishing a side not ready to play football.

The Bulldogs defence was a shadow of its’ usual self, and the Raiders mounted attacks on the fringe of the ruck that blasted holes in the Canterbury line.

The Bulldogs tried to settle, but were seemingly unable to come to terms with the desperate Canberra side. Another try- this time to star five eighth Mark Mclinden - and Canterbury were in deep trouble down 18-0.

The Bulldogs, who were struggling to get a foothold in Raiders territory, made a rare attacking move, pointscoring winger EL Masri crossing to cut the deficit to 18-6.

But the Bulldogs respite was short lived as O’Hara barged his way over for another four-pointer, and Clinton Schifcofske’s conversion gave the Raiders a 24-6 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

But Canterbury was able to get a glimpse of their offence going and Nigel Vagana crossed five minutes before break, cutting the half time deficit to 28-10 in favour of the home side.

They kept up the strong play to start the second half, and crept back to within striking distance with back-to-back tries by fullback Luke Patten and powerhouse winger Matt Utai.

The Raiders were ahead 28-22 after dominating the Bulldogs for the first forty minutes, and were looking vulnerable to attack from the Bulldogs sparkling backline.

But Canberra’s forwards – who were proving a handful for Canterbury – again burst forward, and Roosters bound prop Todd Payten crossed to extend the lead back out to two converted tries.

Schifcofske added the extras then landed a second penalty goal to make the Canberra lead 36-22 with just over 25 minutes remaining, but the Bulldogs refused to surrender and scored again through NRL leading tryscorer Vagana.

The Kiwi international promptly crossed for his hat trick, pulling the Bulldogs back within two points of the Raiders.

The Bulldogs though could come no closer, Schifcofske adding a penalty in the final minute to make the final score 38-34.