ANOTHER FIVE-TRY ROMP

ON THE day that Tonbridge Juddians were deservedly crowned champions of National Three London & South East, Raiders produced another bonus-point display to bring down the curtain on the club’s best ever season.
Sure, there was an element of rustiness and wastefulness in the Raiders’ display, but as the game wore on our backs settled and pulled away.
And - crucially - there were no worrying injuries picked up with the Siam just a fortnight away.

Raiders could hardly have asked for more possession, but the already relegated Essex men were impressively resilient.
Indeed, they hardly looked a basement side.
The only tries of the first half came via the home forwards.
Tom Ceillam, captaining the side in the absence of Lewis Hillier gave Raiders the lead halfway through the first half in trademark fashion, breaking off the back of a catch-and-drive rolling maul to score.
The big kicking visiting fly-half David Higgins narrowed the gap to two points shortly before half-time with a long-range penalty from inside his own half, but Colchester then conceded a second try almost immediately.
Stand-off Owen Thomas was held up over the line but Cameron Craine soon burrowed his way over and Thomas then added the conversion to make it 12-3 at half-time.

Early in the second half, Colchester gave themselves a lifeline with a try for Daniel Whiteman, but they shot themselves in the foot as George Liversidge was sent to the sin bin.
Raiders made the most of their one-man advantage to score through Ned Brown and Kenny Hellier wrapped up the bonus point 10min. from time, rounding off a fine team move and as tempers rose Dan Hill was shown a yellow card while Jerone Awesu saw red for throwing a punch at the Raiders No. 8.
In the final throes of the game Luke Sayer touched down after replacement Blair Campbell had chased down a grubber kick before Colchester through Alex Rayment scored with the final play of the game.

As the final whistle went the team and Garenne Stand crowd could reflect on a superb league campaign which has shown the Guerrnsey side develop into a terrific side with greater depth and at the same time give locally produced youth a chance.
They have been a credit to the club.