After an excellent victory over second in the table London Scottish Lions in the previous match, Raiders were at home to third place Tunbridge Wells this week. Another tough encounter. The reverse fixture earlier in the season saw Raiders give up a sizeable lead and eventually lose the game.
Selection had again been hampered by injuries, especially to front row players. The squad selected showed four changes from that which played against London Scottish Lions. Sam Myles and Callum Butler were both playing their first game of the season for Raiders. Charlie Dale was making his debut at this level and Sam Crockford was on the bench to cover the front row.
Despite the very wet weather earlier in the week, the pitch was in remarkably good condition for this encounter.
Raiders kicked off attacking the southern end of the ground and made a positive start with ball in hand. However, Tunbridge Wells opened the scoring after twelve minutes with a try in the corner, despite the excellent effort by Joel Andrews to hold the scorer up as he crossed the line. With the successful conversion, the visitors had an early 0-7 lead.
Raiders’ defence was generally good and they looked dangerous when in possession. The game was evenly balanced with neither side able to convert promising attacks into points during the next twelve minutes. The visitors scored a second converted try from a catch and drive after twenty-four minutes, extending their lead to 0-14.
Tunbridge Wells were guilty of giving away two penalties in a minute, thus allowing Raiders to put themselves in a prime attacking position, with a line out fifteen metres from the try line.
A clean catch and drive from the throw in enabled Raiders to set up a solid driving maul. With the ball in the hands of skipper, Elliott Luke steering the drive towards the try line. The visitors were unable to prevent the maul crossing their line and he touched down. With the conversion attempt from wide on the left unsuccessful the score was now 5-14.
Unfortunately for Raiders, they were unable to secure the ball from the restart and Tunbridge Wells took full advantage and ran in another converted try to extend their lead to 5-21 with around eight minutes of the half left. At this point Callum Butler entered the game, and Alex Havers took a breather on the bench.
The visitors dominated territory and possession for the remainder of the half but outstanding defence by Raiders on their try line prevented any further score before the interval.
Half time score: Worthing Raiders 5 Tunbridge Wells 21
In order to turn the score around in the second half the home side knew they would have to step up their game and eliminate some of the simple errors they had produced in the first half.
With Raiders now attacking the northern end of the ground it was Tunbridge Wells that kicked off to restart the game after the break.
Raiders made a good start and thanks to the visitors giving up a penalty, they were able to put the ball in touch for a line out some fifteen metres from the visitors’ try line. A catch and drive was initiated and when its forwards momentum was held up, the ball moved into the hands of the backs and a real chance opened. The defence however was able to exert enough pressure to force a knock on and the chance was gone.
The host side were definitely in the ascendency and when their scrum won the ball against the head, and another penalty was awarded, they were able to get deep into Tunbridge Wells territory courtesy of the boot of Tom Meyer.
From the ensuing line out the forwards took the battle to the visitors’ defence. When momentum was halted, Dan Wallis Downham was on hand to pick up and dive over the line for Raiders’ second try. The conversion narrowly missed, but with ten minutes of the second half played the score was now 10-21.
Sam Myles and Alex Havers replaced Tom Sanderson and Matt Bosworth respectively after eleven minutes. Raiders continued to play well with scrum and line out providing plenty of quality possession.
With seventeen minutes of the half played the hosts built an attack from deep in their own half ending with Ed Hartley breaking clear and sprinting to the line to score their third try of the afternoon. Ed was unable to convert his own try from the touchline. With the score now 15-21 victory was a real possibility.
The visitors steadied the ship, and got back into attacking mode, putting Raiders under real pressure deep inside their twenty-two. So much so that Jack Lake received a yellow card for an infringement at a maul.
Tunbridge Wells quickly made the extra player tell, with a catch and drive try. The conversion was unsuccessful, but they had opened up an eleven-point lead with just under twenty minutes to play, 15-26. Sam Crockford replaced Sam Cook in the front row at this point.
From the restart Will Beer caught the ball at full tilt and was away into the visitors’ twenty-two. The visitors gave away another penalty for a high tackle and received a yellow card. Raiders kicked to the corner and set up a drive from the line out. Several attempts were made to cross the line from close quarters but eventually the defence did its job and they were able to clear the danger.
Sam Myles marked his return to the side with a sparkling forty metre break out of defence, followed by a kick that put Raiders back on the attack within twenty metres of the try line. The Tunbridge Wells’ defence thwarted Raiders’ best efforts and they temporarily relieved the pressure.
With time running out Raiders were now in search of their fourth try to gain a bonus point. They created several very promising attacks but were guilty of not being clinical with their final passes.
The game ended deep in Tunbridge Wells’ twenty-two when they were able to put the ball into touch to complete their victory.
Full time score: Worthing Raiders 15 Tunbridge Wells 26
A disappointing result, as victory had been a real possibility midway through the second half. Missed chances and some basic errors had cost dearly. However, plenty of positives to take from the game. Both scrum and lineout functioned almost perfectly to provide quality ball throughout. There were plenty of top individual performances across the whole team and the Egremont Man of the Match award went to the debutante Charlie Dale for his work in the back row.
Although not the result the near four hundred supporters wanted, they had been well entertained with rugby on show from both sides.
Referee: Jesse Lipetz-Robic
Team: 1. Sam Cook 2. Elliott Luke 3. Tom Adams 4. Jack Lake 5. Matt Bosworth 6. Charlie Dale 7. Alex Havers 8. Dan Wallis Downham 9. Tom Sanderson 10. Tom Meyer 11. Will Beer 12. Joel Andrews 13. Christian Streater 14. Jared Penfold 15. Ed Hartley
Bench: 16. Sam Crockford 17. Callum Butler 18. Sam Myles
Scorers: T: Elliott Luke, Dan Wallis Downham, Ed Hartley
