After coming very close to winning away at Old Albanian the previous week, Raiders were back at Roundstone Lane for this week’s game against old rivals Bury St Edmunds. Games between these two sides offer good entertainment and plenty of points.
With the end of the season on the horizon it was vital that Raiders came away with five points if they were to have any chance of getting out of the relegation zone. With Bury St Edmunds sitting in eighth place and Raiders in thirteenth another tough match was in prospect.
Raiders welcomed Tom Bowen and Max Boxall back into the squad in place of Jack Gapper and Charlie Spencer. With only two changes it was hoped that the squad could build on last week’s performance. Jack Lake was playing his 200th league game for Raiders.
The visitors kicked off defending the southern end of the ground.The hosts made the better start moving the ball around with confidence and pace. Bury St Edmunds’ defence was soon put under pressure. Raiders were awarded a penalty in the third minute, which they kicked to touch within striking range of the visitors’ goal line. From the lineout they set up a driving maul. Jimmy Staples broke off the back of the maul and beat the last defender to score from ten metres out. With the conversion unsuccessful they had a 5-0 lead after five minutes.
The hosts were on the scoreboard again after another three minutes when they picked up a loose ball at a ruck in midfield. The ball was moved to Harry Forrest on the left wing and he was able to avoid a couple of attempted tackles to score from twenty five metres. The conversion narrowly missed but with less than ten minutes played the home side had a 10-0 lead.
After fifteen minutes the visitors opened their account with a converted try to reduce the lead to 10-7. Raiders scored their third try after twenty-five minutes and it was a repeat of the first one. Jimmy Staples again touching down after a catch and drive from a lineout. Tom Derrick converted to extend Raiders’ lead to 17-7.
The hosts were in command and playing well at this stage. They scored another converted try in the thirty-eighth minute. Excellent build up involving forwards and backs eventually gave Frank Taggart the chance to break through the Bury St Edmunds’ defence to score the bonus point try. Tom Derrick again converted and as the half was nearing its conclusion, they had built up an encouraging 24-7 lead.
The half ended with a great break out of defence by Tom Bowen, which almost produced another score. Sadly, for the home supporters the move broke down and the referee brought the half to a close.
Half time score: Worthing Raiders 24 Bury St Edmunds 7
The home side restarted the game after the interval, now attacking the northern end of the ground. With only two minutes played Jack Forrest fielded a high kick on his own ten-metre line, he fed the ball to his brother, Harry, who made a scything break. Excellent handling skills were then on show, ending with openside flanker, Kemp Price touching down under the posts. Tom Derrick added the extras, and the lead now extended to 31-7.
Bury St Edmunds like to play an expansive running game and always looked dangerous with ball in hand. After six minutes they were rewarded with a converted try to narrow the gap to 31-14.
Raiders scored another converted try five minutes later. Tom Derrick attempted to chip the ball over the advancing defenders, his kick hit his one of them and rebounded straight back into his hands. The field opened up in front of him, and again good handling by the hosts eventually saw Tom Bowen out run the defenders to score their sixth try of the afternoon. Tom Derrick converted, and the lead stretched to 38-14.
The hosts made changes, Elliott Powell, Jake Rutherford and Tom Bowen were replaced by Harrison Dakin, Sam Myles and Max Boxall. Bury St Edmunds again fought back to score a converted try in the eighteenth minute and at 38-21 they were definitely not out of this game.
The hosts were now feeling the pressure as the visitors raised their game and looked more dangerous as the match progressed. Bury St Edmunds scored another converted try after twenty-six minutes. The hosts possibly guilty of not executing a simple exit strategy. The visitors were now only ten points adrift at 38-28.
Although having to defend for longer periods now, Raiders still managed to create some very good attacking situations deep in the visitors’ territory, but they were unable to capitalise on them.
With thirty-four minutes gone the visitors continued their fight back with their fifth try of the afternoon, which was converted to leave Raiders with a three-point lead at 38-35, and six minutes still to play. Harry Forrest left the field with an injury and Jake Rutherford returned from the bench.
Bury St Edmunds continued to play fast, flowing rugby and when a three-on-one attack was heading towards Raiders’ try line, it suddenly looked like that much needed win was going to be snatched away from them. However, a fantastic last ditch tackle from Jake Rutherford forced the Bury St Edmunds’ player to lose the ball forward. As the clock ticked around to forty minutes, the hosts were awarded a penalty. Tom Meyer gladly, tapped it to himself and then kicked it off the field allowing the referee to blow his whistle for the end of the game.
Full time score: Worthing Raiders 38 Bury St Edmunds 35
A great game of rugby for the four hundred spectators to enjoy, both sides contributing hugely to the spectacle. For the hosts an invaluable five points, in their battle against relegation. With next Saturday a catch up/ rest day in the league, Raiders will train hard in preparation for the away fixture at Henley the following week. Plenty of outstanding individual performances from Raiders today, but how fitting for the Man of the Match award to go to club stalwart, Jack Lake on the day he was making his 200th league appearance for Raiders.
Referee: Tom Bird
The Fox Inn Man of the Match: Jack Lake
Attendance: 398
Scorers:
Tries: Jimmy Staples (2), Harry Forrest, Frank Taggart, Kemp Price, Tom Bowen
Conversions: Tom Derrick (4)
Team: 1. Fraser Bruce – Captain 2. Jimmy Staples 3. Ben Featherstone 4. Jack Lake 5. Elliott Powell 6. Luke Wallace 7. Kemp Price 8. Frank Taggart 9. Jake Rutherford 10. Tom Meyer 11. Harry Forrest 12. Luke Talbot 13. Tom Derrick 14. Tom Bowen 15. Jack Forrest
Replacements: 16. Harrison Dakin 17. Sam Cook 18. Alex Havers 19. Max Boxall 20. Sam Myles
