After achieving a good win at home the previous week, Raiders travelled to Chiswick to take on London Scottish Lions. With both teams having three wins the hosts were in fourth place and the visitors in fifth. Only points difference separated the two teams. Both teams had made a good start to the season, and a close encounter was expected.
Raiders had made a couple of changes due to injury and work commitments but were able to field most of the squad that played against Wimbledon the previous week. JD Leali’ifano was making his first start at full back, Joel Andrews moved to centre and Adam McLean to the wing. Ethan Stone was making his debut in the back row and Jack Whyte was selected on the bench.
Conditions were perfect for an open game as Raiders kicked off.
The visitors made a slow start and were unable to get any possession early on. The hosts, on the other hand had plenty of ball and used it well to open the scoring with a converted try after only three minutes, 7-0.
As the half progressed, Raiders couldn’t find a way into the game. Giving away a couple of early penalties, along side some basic errors allowed London Scottish to dominate and extend their lead in the fourteenth minute with a converted try, 14-0.
Things didn’t get any better in the following minutes. A failed touch kick from a penalty saw the hosts make the most of the broken-field situation and they scored their third converted try to extend their lead to 21-0 with only a quarter of the match played. Unfortunately, Ethan Stone had to leave the game with an injury midway through the half.
Raiders had not seen much of the ball so far but their proportion of possession did increase later in the half. They managed to put good phases together and began to look as if they could get back into the game. However, when chances were created errors were made and they were unable to capitalise on these situations. With thirty minutes played London Scottish scored their bonus point try but did not convert it. Their lead now was looking like a winning one at 26-0.
As the half was nearing its completion Raiders were playing much better. An aggressive run from Regin Pratt brought them close to the hosts try line and a kick chase from Adam McLean saw the ball go dead just before he could get there for the touchdown.
The half closed with the hosts leading 26-0. Raiders had played poorly and knew they had to raise their game in the second half if they were to have any chance of getting anything out of this match.
Half time score: London Scottish Lions 26 Worthing Raiders 0
At the break Josh Taylor replaced Tom Meyer at fly half. The hosts restarted the game and were again quickly on the attack. JD Leali’ifano made an excellent last-ditch tackle to prevent them scoring again.
Things were looking better for the visitors when Will Beer made a run down the left wing, followed by the ball moving swiftly across the back line to the opposite side of the field. Unfortunately, the host’s defence was able to thwart this promising move.
Sam Cook replaced Struan Robertson in the front row after eight minutes of the half.
Raiders’ lineout wasn’t functioning well, but the scrum was certainly dominant throughout the game. Regin Pratt prevented the hosts from scoring with a fine ‘old-fashioned, corner flagging’ tackle. Unfortunately, London Scottish were able to manufacture another try from the resulting lineout. Although, unconverted this had extended their lead to 31-0, after fifteen minutes of the half. From this point Raiders began to play with much more threat and control of the ball.
With twenty minutes played the visitors built an attack with forwards and backs combining. They went through several phases before Regin Pratt took it on himself to plough his way through all attempted tackles from thirty metres out to score next to the posts. Tom Sanderson converted to bring the score to 31-7.
A few minutes later a fine 50-22 touch kick from Josh Taylor put Raiders in a great attacking position. From the lineout they set up a driving maul and Sam Cook peeled off the back to dive over in the corner. Tom Sanderson converted, 31-14. Joel Andrews received a yellow card for a technical offence.
Raiders were playing catch up and taking risks in an effort to get back and at least earn a bonus point. The result of this was that the hosts snatched an interception try to widen the gap to 38-14.
Undeterred Raiders came back strongly, now playing with intensity and skill. With a few minutes left in the game Adam McLean scored. In order to save time, he had a drop kick attempt at the conversion which went wide.
With the score at 38-19 there was still time to get that vital bonus point try. Two penalties against the hosts allowed Raiders to gain ground and have a lineout only ten metres from the try line. Sadly, they lost the lineout, and the hosts put the ball out of play to finish the game.
Full time score: London Scottish Lions 38 Worthing Raiders 19
A disappointing result. Raiders didn’t ‘get off the bus’ in the first half but then won the second half. Again, some good individual performances and good teamwork, especially in the second half.
However, Raiders were guilty of making too many basic errors throughout the match. Good sides will always punish your errors, and London Scottish did just that.
Scorers:
Tries: Regin Pratt, Sam Cook, Adam McLean
Conversions: Tom Sanderson (2)
Team: 1. Struan Robertson 2. Elliott Luke – Captain 3. Regin Pratt 4. Jack Lake 5. Ollie Crow 6. Ethan Stone 7. Luke Gill 8. Dan Wallis Downham 9. Tom Sanderson 10. Tom Meyer 11. Will Beer 12. Christian Streater 13. Joel Andrews 14. Adam McLean 15. JD Leali’ifano
Bench: 16. Sam Cook 17. Jack Whyte 18. Josh Taylor
