After a tough start to the year away at top of the table Tonbridge Juddians, Raiders returned to Roundstone Lane for this week’s game with Barnes, who currently occupy second place.
Raiders made four changes to the squad for this match, George Gatford and Alex Havers returned to take their places on the bench, and Cam Dobinson was also on the bench for his first appearance in over a year. New signing Jack Gapper was making his debut for Raiders, also from the bench. Having made his 100th league appearance for Raiders, Will Gearing-Grief led the team out for the start of the match.
After several recent games played in wet and windy conditions, today’s contest was blessed with a windless, sunny afternoon. The visitors had kick off and were defending the northern end of the ground in the first half. Barnes started fast and almost scored the first points of the afternoon but when they managed to charge down a clearance kick they were adjudged to be offside, and the home side were able to relieve the early pressure.
The hosts gave away a penalty after six minutes and the visitors were able to kick to touch close to their try line. From the line out, a catch and drive resulted in an unconverted try to give Barnes the early lead at 0 – 5. After thirteen minutes, Raiders had a penalty in midfield. They kicked for touch, but the ball didn’t quite go out of play. The visitors counter attacked from deep and scored a converted try to stretch their lead to 0 – 12.
When the restart kick went directly into touch, the visitors were able to build another attack from a scrum on the halfway line. Within a few minutes Barnes recorded their third try, which they converted to lead by seventeen points. The visitors were guilty of giving away several penalties. This gave the home side the chance to establish a good attacking position deep in their twenty-two-metre area. Unfortunately, the penalty kick for touch went dead and the chance was gone.
During the next ten minutes the hosts defended well and prevented any further scores by Barnes. Raiders managed to steal possession from a Barnes’ line out and turned defence into attack at the other end of the pitch. However, after some patient phase play, the move eventually broke down and produced no points.
With thirty-eight minutes played, Barnes failed to find touch from a penalty and Raiders were able to clear to the twenty-two-metre line. From the line out the visitors mounted another attack that resulted in a converted try. With only a couple of minutes left in the half, Raiders were looking at another mountain to climb if they had any chance of getting anything out of this match.
The half ended with Raiders on the attack and looking quite dangerous, until they knocked the ball on under pressure. This rather summed up the half for the hosts, some patches of good team rugby, spoiled by too many basic errors.
Half-time score: Worthing Raiders 0 Barnes 26
The hosts had already brought Jack Gapper on late in the first half and followed that with Sam Cook and Cam Dobinson coming on at the interval. Raiders restarted the game, now attacking the southern end of the ground.
The second half was a much better affair for the home side, although it didn’t start too well, with a forward pass and then a free kick against them at the ensuing scrum. After two minutes it was the visitors turn to knock on under pressure on the halfway line. With possession from the scrum, Raiders were able to gain ground and put themselves in a good attacking position in the visitors’ half. The forwards carried the ball at close quarters, forcing the Barnes’ defence back towards their own try line. After several attempts at close range, Sam Cook eventually got over the line to score for the home side. Dillon Worsley converted, and the score was now 7 – 26.
Raiders were definitely playing with more confidence, and although the scrum was under some pressure they were giving as good as they were getting around the field. Chances were being created more regularly but errors at vital times prevented them from capitalising on them. After nine minutes of the half, following two consecutive catch and drives, Raiders were camped on the visitors five-metre line, but after several attempts to break through the defence, a knock on ended any chance of points.
Raiders used interchanges from the bench to help maintain their improving performance. Alex Havers joined the game for the first time and Charlie Spencer returned after a spell on the bench. Twelve minutes had been played when Charlie Spencer made a neat half break up the right wing, however at the tackle the ball was turned over and the visitors created another converted try with this possession. 7 – 33.
The hosts found themselves under quite some pressure in the following minutes, but they defended solidly. Barnes scored a further unconverted try after nineteen minutes, to extend their lead to 7 – 38. Although playing better, the hosts were still prone to making simple errors, which prevented them from building sustained pressure on the opposition’s defence.
As the game progressed it was encouraging for the home supporters to see the team raise their level of performance and build enough pressure to create two further tries. The first came in the twenty-fifth minute when Frank Taggart took a tap penalty five metres from the Barnes’ try line, when he was held up and the ruck formed, Ben Featherstone was able to pick up and force his way over the line. Dillon Worsley converted with a quick drop kick in order to save time. At 14 – 38, Raiders were in search of a possible bonus point.
The third try came from another quick tap at a penalty. This time it was scrum-half Cam Dobinson who took it and crossed the line himself. The conversion missed but Raiders still had a couple of minutes to attempt to get the fourth try.
Now playing much more controlled rugby, the hosts pushed to find another try but eventually it was Barnes who had the last say when they kicked a penalty to make the final score 19 – 41.
Full-time score: Worthing Raiders 19 Barnes 41
Raiders had shown they can compete with the top sides, but they make too many basic errors which undo all their good work. Good sides like Barnes will always punish you in these circumstances, and that is exactly what happened again today. However, this was a much better second half performance, which Raiders won 19 -15, showing plenty of spirit and skills more reflective of their ability. Still a long way to go, but realistically at least five or six victories are needed to avoid relegation.
Another tough game next week when Raiders face fourth-placed Canterbury at Roundstone Lane.
Referee: Alex Rose
The Fox Inn Man of the Match: Harrison Dakin
Attendance: 275
Scorers:
Tries: Sam Cook, Ben Featherstone, Cam Dobinson
Conversions: Dillon Worsley x 2
Team: 1. Fraser Bruce – Captain 2. Harrison Dakin 3. Ben Featherstone 4. Jack Lake 5. Elliott Powell 6. Ollie Crow 7. Will Gearing-Grief 8. Frank Taggart 9. Jake Rutherford 10. Tom Meyer 11. Charlie Spencer 12, Tom Derrick 13. Jack Forrest 14. Saope Soko 15. Dillon Worsley
Replacements: 16. George Gatford 17. Sam Cook 19. Cam Dobinson 20. Alex Havers 21. Jack Gapper
