GREAT PERFORMANCE

HEAD Coach Jordan Reynolds was pleased with the performance that his table-topping side put in as his side grows in confidence each week.
After seeing his men run in 11 tries for a 10th straight win, our head coach said: ‘We just wanted to perform well today, the last few games we have had slow starts so really wanted to rectify that, which I feel we did.’
It really was a superb effort in far from easy conditions.
‘It was good to see or back-line finishing off the work of our forwards,’ added the coach.
‘A lot of the things we have been working on for years worked today and to put 69 points on them was a pleasing.
‘Our boys showed that we deserve to be No. 1.’ - and long may it continue!

During that memorable first half, Raiders again played some sublime rugby.
Inside four minutes Raiders were ahead as some slick hands set up the long-striding Anthony Armstrong and the winger raced 50m diagonally to score.
Thomas failed to convert, but he was on target a short while later when Raiders got a second.
Thomas kicked for the far corner and from the catch and drive move, it was Cameron Craine who had ball in hand when the pack completed their work.
There was no let up and a real zip about the home side’s play.
Luke Jones went in for try number three on Armstrong’s pass and Whitehead scored a fourth in the same corner at the end of a lively, flowing move.
Kicker Thomas read the wind perfectly and to the amazement of the Stand, his kick swerved a long way to nip in between the posts.
Dan Hill wriggled in for the next score but Thomas, who finished the day with seven conversions, couldn’t repeat that earlier trick, but soon after he was back on the mark after Armstrong dabbed down for his second after racing onto Jones’ clever kick down the line.
Then, in the dying embers of the half, Whitehead dived in the corner after more backs magic and with the last play of the half Armstrong got his hat-trick with another 50m burst.

Into the second half it took Raiders seven minutes to score a ninth courtesy of Tom Ceillam at the end of a catch and drive move and five minutes later, in similar fashion, it was Hill who went over for his second.
Both tries were converted but other than a penalty try on 68min. that was it and Sidcup, who to their credit dug in after the break, scored a deserved consolation try.

That was part one of ‘Past and Present Members day and it would be nice to say that part two was just as entertaining for the good number that stayed on.
But it wasn’t pretty, either in terms of the action or weather.
It really was horrible for the evening game.
Yet, the Vikings came away with the win - just and Raiders men like Luke Skovronek and Jason Batiste got valuable pitch time.
Jacob Greenberg’s first half try kept Vikings in front for a long while but late on Midhurst levelled with a score of their own.
But there was relief for the black and yellow when referee Mahoney awarded the home side a penalty and from virtually under the posts Alec Bailey kicked the decisive points.

Completing the weekend’s action the Guernsey Ladies gave table-topping Newbury a real run for their money in the UK.
The visitors led for half an hour but Newbury were level at 5-5 at half-time and then made the game safe very late on with a converted try in a 22-5 win.
Nevertheless, it was another highly encouraging display from the girls.
Full report to follow.