Match report and photos by Colin Coulson
Newly promoted to National 2 this season, Wimbledon made their first visit to Roundstone Lane since December 2017. With the visitors in thirteenth and the hosts in twelfth place this was a must win for both sides.
Raiders made three changes to the side that travelled to Esher the previous week. Curtis Barnes made a welcome return after a lengthy period of injury and Will Rigelsford and Joe Knight returned after missing the game last week.
Despite a very wet week on the south coast the pitch was in a remarkedly good condition thanks to a small group of club members who removed many gallons of standing water during Saturday morning.
At nine o’clock the rain was still pouring down and not many would have predicted the entertaining twelve try game that happened a few hours later.
Wimbledon kicked off playing towards the southern end of the ground and were quickly on the attack, aided by the home side giving away four penalties before ten minutes had been played. From the last of these they scored a converted try to take a seven-point lead.
With thirteen minutes played it was the home side that scored next. Defending well in the middle of the pitch they turned the ball over in a tackle. The ball was moved left through the hands of the backs, when it reached Jack Forrest, he put a cross-field kick out towards the left wing. Two Wimbledon players attempted to get to the ball but Curtis Barnes got there first and sprinted off to score from forty metres. Louis Ellis converted and the scores were level, 7-7.
With nineteen minutes played the visitors scored their second catch and drive try which they converted to retake the lead at 7-14.
The seesaw nature of the first quarter continued when the hosts levelled the score with another converted try. The visitors put up a high kick from midfield which came down on the home side’s twenty-two metre line. Louis Ellis took a clean catch under pressure and threw a pass infield to Tom Bowen who shrugged off an attempted tackle before setting off to curve a seventy-five-metre route through the Wimbledon defence to touch down. Louis Ellis added the extras to bring the score to 14-14.
Raiders took the lead for the first time after thirty-two minutes. From a scrum the ball was moved across the back line with Curtis Barnes entering the line from the blindside wing. Once in possession he split the defence and set off on a fifty-metre run towards the visitors’ try line. It looked as if he would score his second try of the afternoon but spirited defence managed to catch him a few metres short. Tom Bowen was on hand to receive a well-timed offload and he crossed to touch down for his second try of the match. Louis Ellis again converted and the home side now had a 21-14 lead.
As the half was nearing its end the home side were awarded a penalty on the visitors’ ten-metre-line, they decided to take a shot at the posts. Louis Ellis stepped up and comfortably struck the ball far enough but slightly wide. For some unknown reason the Wimbledon player attempted to catch the kick instead of letting it sail harmlessly over the dead ball line. Unfortunately, for the visitors the ball was knocked on in the goal and the home side were awarded a scrum on the five-metre-line.
The Raiders’ scrum was gaining dominance as the game progressed and it was no surprise when Will Rigelsford darted over from close range. Louis Ellis was again successful with the conversion and the lead stretched to 28-14 as the half came to a conclusion.
Half time score: Worthing Raiders 28 Wimbledon 14
The game recommenced with Raiders kicking off attacking the southern end of the ground.
After five minutes the hosts had a scrum on their own twenty-two-metre line and swiftly turned defence into attack with a typical Jack Forrest break which took the game to the opposition’s ten-metre line. The referee awarded Raiders a penalty and Louis Ellis took the opportunity to add three points from the kick, 31-14.
Wimbledon were undeterred by the widening margin of the score and hit back with a converted try. This reduced the gap to ten points at 31-21.
With the bonus point already in the bag, it was no surprise that Raiders chose to kick for goal when the referee awarded a penalty against the visitors in the fourteenth minute. The ball sailed between the posts and the lead was extended to 34- 21.
At this stage Raiders were in complete control of the game. The scrum was dominant and won two against the head. Frank Taggart was giving Wimbledon’s defence a lot to deal with as he repeatedly made ground from the base of the scrum.
The backs were looking dangerous when in possession and continued to move the ball about with ease as if it were a warm, dry September day.
At the halfway point in the half Wimbledon were penalised for not releasing at a tackle. Louis Ellis put the ball into touch within ten metres of the try line. A short throw to Ed Grinsted set up a driving maul and Frank Taggart crossed the line to touch down. With the conversion missed the hosts now had a lead of eighteen points at 39-21.
At this point Raiders made their first replacement of the match with Harry Forrest going off and Cam Dobinson taking his place on the field.
Within a few minutes Raiders scored another converted try when Will Rigelsford sold an outrageous dummy from the base of a ruck and sprinted twenty-five metres to score unopposed under the posts. The extras were safely added by Louis Ellis and the lead stretched to 46-21.
Will Rawlinson replaced Curtis Barnes.
The visitors were now playing for a bonus point fourth try and indeed in the next five minutes scored two tries from close range to bring the score to 46-33.
With time almost up the home side scored the final try of the afternoon when Ed Grinsted crashed over from short range. Louis Ellis converted to bring his tally for the afternoon to five conversions and two penalties.
Final score: Worthing Raiders 51 Wimbledon 33
This was a vital win for Raiders and hopefully sees their season back on track.
Seven tries scored from all over the pitch, expansive rugby demonstrating speed, skill and fitness. The kind of rugby the Roundstone Lane crowd expects to see.
The forwards were outstanding, controlling possession at scrum and lineout. The backs were dynamic and untouchable at times.
The only negative was the five-minute blip late in the second half which allowed the visitors to pick up two tries. Fortunately, this wasn’t going to alter the result but a warning about easing off towards the end of a game.
The Man of the Match could have been given to just about every player in a blue and yellow shirt but for his dominance and great influence from No 8, Frank Taggart was the recipient after a textbook performance.
Referee: Holly Wood
Attendance: 322
Enzo’s Italian Restaurant Man of the Match: Frank Taggart
Scorers:
Tries: Barnes, Bowen (2), Rigelsford (2), Taggart, Grinsted
Con: Ellis (5)
Pen: Ellis (2)
Team:
Dan Sargent 2. Jack Doorey-Palmer 3. Ben Featherstone 4. Jack Lake 5. Dan Macadams 6. Ed Grinsted 7. Joe Knight 8. Frank Taggart 9. Will Rigelsford Louis Ellis 11. Curtis Barnes 12. Harrison Sims 13. Jack Forrest – Captain 14. Harry Forrest 15. Tom Bowen
Bench:
Grant Gatford 17. Balazs Magda 18. Will Gearing-Grief 19. Cam Dobinson 20. Will Rawlinson