Match report and photos Colin Coulson
This week Raiders were away at seventh placed Canterbury. This was only their second game in six weeks due to the festive season and bad weather.
The Raiders’ squad was looking stronger with the return of Fraser Bruce, Ben Featherstone, Tom Derrick, Caleb Ashworth and Charlie Clare. Although skipper Jack Forrest and Curtis Barnes, among others remained on the injured list.
Raiders played up the slope in the first half.
Canterbury kicked off and after thirteen minutes took the lead when they kicked a penalty, 3-0.
The visitors were playing well and had plenty of possession to work with.
After a break by Ben Featherstone the visitors were awarded a penalty. Louis Ellis put it into touch close to the try line and from the line out they executed a catch and drive leading to skipper, Jack Lake touching down. With the conversion missed they now had a two-point lead, 3-5, after twenty minutes.
The visitors started to rotate players from the bench to maintain the tempo on the field. Ben Featherstone and Fraser Bruce were both replaced midway through the half by Caleb Ashworth and Ethan Clarke.
With twenty-four minutes played and Raiders committed to their handling game, Harrison Sims made a break from forty metres out and brushed off several attempted tackles before diving in to score his first try of the afternoon. Tom Derrick converted and the lead extended to 3-12.
Canterbury received a yellow card after twenty-seven minutes but despite this they were next to score with an unconverted try to close the gap to 8-12.
From the restart the visitors regained the ball and some excellent handling and powerful running saw Jack Doorey-Palmer finish off the move from twenty metres, diving in to score under the posts. Tom Derrick added the extras to stretch the lead to 8-19. After scoring, Jack had to leave the pitch injured and was replaced by Grant Gatford
Raiders received a yellow card after thirty-five minutes and Dan Macadams went to the sin bin.
A poor defensive scrum by Raiders led to the hosts picking up a converted try, closing the gap to 15-19.
Half time score: Canterbury 15 Worthing Raiders 19
Raiders restarted the game after the break now playing down the slope.
Will Rigelsford had to leave the field injured after taking a hit in the face at a ruck, Charlie Clare replaced him. No punishment was given to the offending player.
Moments later Ethan Clarke received a yellow for a technical offence at a scrum.
When Canterbury were penalised deep in Raiders’ territory, Louis Ellis put a fifty-metre touch finder down the field and the result was a line out for the visitors on the home sides twenty-two metre line. From the lineout Raiders built a sweeping attack going through several phases before Caleb Ashworth hit a great line at pace brushing aside defenders as he ploughed over to score. Tom Derrick converted from wide out on the left to extend the lead to 15-26.
Will Rigelsford returned to the game in place of Harry Forrest.
The home side replied with a converted try and quickly followed it with another thus taking the lead for the first time in the game at 29-26, with fourteen minutes left to play.
Ben Featherstone returned to the game replacing Grant Gatford. Will Rawlinson received a yellow card closely followed by another for a Canterbury player.
With five minutes left in the game Harrison Sims scored his second try of the afternoon when the ball was moved up the blindside of a scrum close to the host’s try line. Tom Derrick was again successful with the kick and the lead was regained by raiders at 29-33.
In the eightieth minute Raiders were defending soundly and looked as if they would come away deservedly with the win. However, in the final minute the referee issued two more yellow cards to the visitors, first Charlie Clare and then Ed Grinsted.
From the penalties that ensued Raiders continued to defend comfortably with only thirteen players.
The final decision of the game gave the home side victory. As a canterbury player was tackled by the Raiders’ defenders on the goal line the referee blew his whistle and after consulting his assistant referee forty metres from the play awarded a try instead of held up over the line. The conversion completed the scoring and Canterbury had snatched victory with the last play of the game.
Full time score: Canterbury 36 Worthing Raiders 33
There were seven yellow cards in a game played in great spirit between these two sides. It was not in any way the type of game you would expect to have all these cards. However, it had a great bearing on the result for Raiders.
Quite simply Raiders deserved to win this game. The two points earned in defeat may well be vital later in the season. The spirit and skill shown by the Raiders’ squad was outstanding.
Referee: Jack Sutton
Scorers:
Tries: Lake, Sims (2), Doorey-Palmer, Ashworth
Cons: Derrick (4)
Team:
1. Fraser Bruce 2. Jack Doorey-Palmer 3. Ben Featherstone 4. Jack Lake – captain 5. Dan Macadams 6. Ed Grinsted 7. Joe Knight 8. Frank Taggart
9. Will Rigelsford 10. Louis Ellis 11. Harry Forrest 12. Harrison Sims 13. Tom Derrick 14. Will Rawlinson 15. Tom Bowen
Replacements:
16. Grant Gatford 17. Ethan Clarke 18. Caleb Ashworth 19. Charlie Spencer 20. Charlie Clare
