BIG WIN SHOWS OUR CHARACTER

WHEN the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Well, that’s what they say.
At 10-21 down after barely 25 minutes, Raiders needed to get going and they certainly did that to transform a game that early on looked to be slipping away from them in deepest Hertforshire on Saturday. But Raiders overcame a terrible start to run in six tries and with a 44-33 scoreline.
But two straight defeats for the team from Ware in Hertfordshire, combined with two big wins for the Raiders has seen Hertford drop in the London & South East Premier table and now it is the Guernsey side in charge of an intriguing title race, staying five points clear of Tring and 6 points clear of Barnes and 10 points clear of Hertford who still have a match in hand on all the sides above them.

Within two minutes of the start a Raiders foray into Hertford territory saw an immediate reward courtesy of a penalty following a high tackle.
Owen Thomas slotted the kick over for a three-point lead, but soon things quickly went pear-shaped,
From the kick off the Hertford scrum half, Ben Creasey, chipped the ball behind the Raiders defence and was allowed to pick it up from the bounce before running clear for a fine try under the posts.
With the conversion kicked Hertford were 7-3 ahead.
It soon got worse.
Ten minutes in Raiders knocked on a pass on the halfway line and Hertford spun it out to their centre Streets who glided through some poor Raiders defence for another converted try: 14-3.
Five minutes later with Raiders pinned in their own 22, a scrum with a green and whites put in created the opportunity for Douglas Horrocks to burst away from the base of the scrum and power his way down the park with Robin Le Coq in support.
Hertford were unable to defend the attack and could only watch as Luke Jones dived over the line and with Owen Thomas converting it was now a four-point game.
But Raiders were still making too many errors and on 20min. another home side attack through their backs combined with poor
Raiders defence led to another fine try for the Hertford centre Smart which was converted for a 21-10 advantage.

At this point Hertford looked like they were going to win the day and in days past Raiders would probably have lost from such a position.
But these days they are made of much sterner stuff and with the Hertford pack visibly tiring Raiders put their mistakes behind them and started to take control with devastating affect.
In the last 10 minutes of the half they were to score 19 unanswered points.
Firstly, they powered their way into the Hertford half and from a resulting scrum a simple switch move between Malcolm Barnes and Ned Brown saw the centre bulldoze his way through the Hertford defence for a converted try: 21-17
Then, another couple of Brown’s one-man demolision derbies on the Hertford defence allowed the green and whites to score another try through Luke Jones.
Although the conversion was missed Raiders now led by one and from the game’s first lineout the onslaught continued with the ball passing through the forwards and backs for captain Lewis Hillier to score under the posts.
Owen converted and suddenly Raiders were 29-21 ahead at half-time.

Having gained control, Raiders were in no mood to let it slip and within five minutes of the restart Raiders forced Hertford back into their own half.
A penalty allowed Thomas to kick for corner and from the following catch and drive Raiders showed their power and as the pack drove over the Hertford line Tom Ceillam got his name on the scoresheet.
Thomas missed the conversion but the lead was now 21-34 and Raiders’ stranglehold of the game continued to produce dividends.
Camped in the Hertford half the visiting backs and forwards went through the phases before releasing Thomas to glide over the line for a great team try.
Although the conversion was missed the referee demanded a re-take and this time Owen duly kicked it for a 20-point lead at 21-41.
As expected, Hertford regrouped and fought back and with 25min. gone they eventually scored from a Raiders mistake.
The try was converted to make it 28-41 but straight from the kick off Hertford conceded a pen and Thomas gratefully accepted it to score with ease: 28-44.
With the game becoming a bit fractious Layton Batiste was shown a yellow card with 5min. left and Hertford scored the try of the day from their own try line just before the final whistle.
Elsewhere, Barnes and Tring both won to stay in the thick of the title race but with this win it really is time to start believing.

Guernsey Ladies 19, Reading Abbey Nuns 40

ANOTHER defeat for our Ladies, but a quite superb performance in threatening to pull off a remarkable win at Footes lane over Sunday lunchtime.
Trailing 26-7 at the break, they hit back to get within just seven points of the promotion chasing visitors.
Ultimately, two very late tries gave the final scoreline an unflattering look.
Guernsey’s tries came from Fiona Power (two) and Aimee Gaudion.
More to follow