THOMAS INJURY MARS RAIDERS WIN

EIGHT tries, another five-point haul but the hounds are still chasing.
Raiders went past the 50-point mark yet again, but few days are ever perfect and as well as the fact that the three top sides behind them in the London and SE Premier title race also won, there was the worrying sight of influential fly-half Owen Thomas being carried off with a knee injury.

On a fine day at Westcliff where Raiders have lost twice in three previous visits, Raiders again gave the opposition a head start courtesy of a dropped ball duly which Westcliff gratefully picked up to score within two minutes of the kick off.
But for the next 30 minutes Raiders, who had Lewis Hillier in their line-up after all, were imperious.
Straight from the kick off Raiders put Westcliff under pressure forcing an immediate penalty which Raiders kicked for a line out. With the backs and forwards combining a cheeky dummy from Sam Steventon, full back Sam Whitehead dived over in the corner.
Like Westcliff’s score, the conversion was missed.
The green and whites continued to attack with gusto and when Westcliff conceded another penalty Malcolm Barnes’ quick tap led to Nick Merrien forcing his way over the try line.
Again the conversion was missed but Raiders were 10-5 ahead.
Soon after they were 12 ahead.
Malcolm Barnes sent Luke Sayer free to saunter in for an easy try and this time the conversion was kicked by Sam Whitehead.
Raiders continued to play vibrantly and when the pack won the ball against the head in the Westcliff 22, it released Thomas who cut through the Westcliff defence for a converted try: 5-24.
The next score came from another catch and drive move and this time it was Barnes who drove his way over the line for a try and make the score 5-29.
Westcliff then hit back.
When Raiders gave away a penalty in their own half, a quick tap followed by a kick and chase led to a smart try for the home side and the margin was back to 19.
Then, with 5 minutes of a pulsating half remaining, Thomas received a yellow card for a tackle over the horizontal and with Whitehead moving to fly half the home side immediately capitalised on Raiders not having a full back.
Another smart kick and chase ensued and Westcliff scored the last try of the half for a 15-29 scoreline at the break.

Early in the second and with Owen Thomas still in the sin-bin Westcliff forced another prenalty.
Without hesitation the Westcliff team took another quick tap in their own half, ran the ball through the backs and scored a great try which was converted.
It was now 22-29 and when Raiders then failed to control the ball at their feet and the home side ran the ball through the forwards and backs for another superb converted try and level at 29-29.

These were worrying times for Raiders, but to their credit they held their nerve and regrouped to once again show their class.
With Owen Thomas now back on and Jason Batiste on for BC (Campbell) the green and whites’ power at the scrum forced the home side to concede a penalty try.
Then, another power push at a scrum under the posts, forced another penalty from which Whitehead opted to kick the three points and make it 29-39.
It was then that Thomas unfortunately had to leave the field due to a nasty knee injury, but Raiders’ dominance continued as the Westcliff team began to run out of steam.
Another Raiders trademark catch and drive drove its way to the line and Layton Batiste powered his way over the try line.
Even though the conversion was missed it was 29-44 and there was more to come from the league leaders.
With the last play of the game and under further pressure, Westcliff were forced to clear the line with a poor kick that fell to the Raiders back three whose link play allowed the ever safe Luke Jones to score the final try.
Whitehead’s successful conversion pushed Raiders past the 50 points mark and it was another mission accomplished.