After a solid victory at home the previous week, Raiders were away to Camberley to start the second half of the season.
Injuries picked up in the last game prevented skipper Elliott Luke, Ben Heber and Josh Taylor from playing in this match. In all, five changes had to be made to the squad. Matt Bosworth and Dan Wallis Downham both returned to the squad and Eli Akehurst was making his debut in the centre. Ed Hartley was selected at full back after rejoining the club. Tom Adams returned in the front row after spells of rugby in New Zealand and Ireland.
Camberley kicked off with the breeze and sun on their backs. Raiders were very quickly into attack mode and with only a few minutes played they kicked to the corner from a penalty. From the ensuing line out Max Ravaudet touched down after a well-executed catch and drive. Tom Sanderson added the extras to give the visitors an early lead, 0-7.
Raiders were having the better of possession in the early part of the game and on fourteen minutes they scored their second try. This started from a line out thirty-five metres from the try line. A driving maul was set up which took the Camberley forwards backwards. When momentum was stopped Tom Sanderson made a break from behind the ruck and after evading a couple of tackles, he offloaded to Christian Streater to get the touchdown. Tom converted to extend the visitor’ lead to 0-14.
Camberley crossed the line to notch a converted try in the twentieth minute to close the gap to seven points a 7-14. Raiders hit straight back with another try from a line out. This time the catch and drive made the best part of twenty metres before Struan Robertson touched down. With the conversion unsuccessful the score was 7-19 after twenty-three minutes. The visitors were playing well and keeping pressure on the Camberley defence. Chances were being created at regular intervals. Unfortunately, a couple of these were thwarted close to the try line.
With thirty-four minutes played Struan Robertson collected an overthrown line out by the Camberley hooker. From his position at the back of the line he set off towards the try line, bouncing tacklers out of his path. When he was eventually brought to ground the forwards carried on the move until Luke Gill went over from close range. Tom Sanderson again converted to extend the lead to 7-26. This being the fourth try, Raiders had earned the try bonus point.
The hosts replied with an excellent try from a scrum only a few metres from their own line. Individual skill from the full back saw them go the length of the pitch for an unconverted try, 12-26.
Raiders were still the dominant side, although their scrum had been under pressure a couple of times during the half.
Just on half time, the visitors were again pounding away at the Camberley defence through the forwards. They defended well until Raiders threw the ball wide to Will Beer on the left wing who went over unopposed. The conversion went wide but the score but with the score at 12-31 the referee brought the half to a close.
Half time score: Camberley 12 Worthing Raiders 31
The visitors started the half where they left off, on the attack and within two minutes they had scored another try. After good work across the back line, Lewis Reed was held up a few metres short of the line. The forwards took over and Sam Cook touched down. The try was unconverted, 12-36.
Five minutes later Matt Bosworth made a rampaging run, brushing aside attempted tackles. When he was brought to ground, the ball was recycled quickly to the backs, and the ball was fed to Luke Gill. He ran a great line to split the defence and sprinted thirty metres to score his second try of the afternoon. With the conversion from Tom Sanderson the lead was stretched to thirty-one-points at 12-43.
Camberley continued to run the ball from all areas of the pitch and moments after Raiders scored, another outstanding run from their full back resulted in an unconverted try for them, 17-43 with half an hour still to play.
The hosts continued to look dangerous with ball in hand, even when they were playing from their own goal line. Their enterprise was rewarded with a bonus point try in the twentieth minute. Although the conversion was missed at 22-43 and Raiders looking a bit shaky. They looked like they could claw their way back into the game. Fortunately for Raiders they got back into their stride and turned the pressure back onto the Camberley defence.
Just before the half hour mark, Lewis Reed scooped up a loose ball at the back of a ruck, made ground and slipped the ball to Christian Streater who dived over to score his second try of the game. The conversion was missed but the visitors now had a twenty-six-point lead at 22-48.
During the final minutes Tom Adams and Christian Streater both received yellow cards as did one of the Camberley players. Despite being a man down, it was the visitors who completed the scoring, with a catch and drive try by Max Ravaudet, his second of the day, Tom Sanderson was wide with the conversion attempt.
With little time left in the game both sides continued to play attractive rugby but without any addition to the score.
Full time score: Camberley 22 Worthing Raiders 53
An excellent result away from home and five more valuable points earned. Despite so many changes to the line-up, this was a very good team performance. Testament to the quality of players in the second team and the coaching they are receiving. Every player in the squad played his part.
An entertaining game for the spectators with both sides providing quality scores through forwards and backs alike.
Team: 1. Struan Robertson 2. Max Ravaudet 3. Tom Adams 4. Jack Lake 5. Matt Bosworth 6. Alex Havers 7. Luke Gill 8. Dan Wallis Downham 9. Tom Sanderson 10. Tom Meyer 11. Will Beer 12. Eli Akehurst 13. Christian Streater 14. Lewis Reed 15. Ed Hartley
Bench: 16. Sam Cook 17. Alex Perry 18. Austin Steele
Scorers:
Tries: Ravaudet (2), Streater (2), Robertson, Gill (2), Beer, Cook
Penalties: Sanderson (4)
