TOP of the table

Can we stay top for the next nine months?
Well, on face value this performance served notice that the new-look Raiders just might be a step up from the previous vintage.
It was a terrific effort from the lads and there was not an aspect of the whole game which didn’t seem to go well and a few individuals revelled in the occasion.
Take Luke Sayer for example.
The full-back was not in the best of health at the end of last season and missed out on a Siam appearance as a result, but he is keen to give it a real go this season and before half-an-hour of this game was done he had a hat-trick of tries to his name.
He got scores one, three and five, while interspersed between those first-half scores were a brace from Tom Ceillam.

Just before the break Sam Steventon got his name on the scoresheet and Owen Thomas nailed five of the six kicks.
Towcestrians were down to 14 men for 10 minutes of that thoroughly miserable half for the home side who must have been shell-shocked at what they encountered from the Island side.
‘It was a dominant display from the word go,’ said coach Jordan Reynolds.
And it didn’t get any real better for the home team.
Blair Campbell was next to go over, followed by a score from Owen who was flawless with the boot in the second period.
Steventon got try No. 9, Malcolm Barnes the 10th and Chris Ahne finished things off.
Despite the final scorelines, our head coach was impressed by some of the Towcestrians players,
‘I don’t think they are that bad and I’m sure they will improve.’ He added, 'a few of their key players were out with injury, so that would not have helped their situation.'

The Raiders missed 5 tackles which might have been punished by other teams, but it was still a decent defensive display in which Steventon was impressive, especially after his pre-season niggles.
All the new boys did well and the only downsides were Sayer rolling his ankle and a niggle for Campbell who is rated 50-50 for this weekend when Anthony Armstrong will be back available.
Despite the convincing nature of their opening day victory, Reynolds emphasised that his side will not be getting carried away with the result.
‘It was great to get points on the board, but we have got a pretty tough run coming up,’ he said.
‘We were 85% there, but besides the missed tackles we were at a great standard.’

Towcestrians may not have won on the pitch, but their warm hospitality was definitely a winner - along with the post match steak pie!