RAIDERS GO 12 WINS IN A ROW

THEY took a long while to finally see off, but revenge was suitably gained by the Raiders who had lost at Guildford before embarking on this tremendous 12-match unbeaten run that has taken them a step closer to the London and SE Premier title.
Two unconverted tries separated the sides at half time, but thereafter the Raiders put away their chances and as the visitors ran out of steam to a certain extent, the home side sailed to another bonus point victory and a whopping 11-point lead at the top.

The fact that Raiders game was the only one of the scheduled round to go ahead as the winter weather continued to grip the south of England, was one reason while head coach Jordan Reynolds such a happy man at the final whistle.
‘We had the opportunties in the first half but we just didn't take them until the two at the end, but we were the dominant side throughout the match and the second half those opportunities we were missing we got in the end, and there were a few more, right at the end, that we didn't get.
‘But I thought we played well and we got the bonus point, which is exactly what we wanted.
‘Normally I'd be pretty upset by that performance but we got the full points on a day when nobody else got any, so that puts the pressure on the others to go on and pick up their bonus points, which is fantastic for us and we don't have to play on the 17th, which I'm ecstatic about.’
Our head coach explained why:
‘It's England-Ireland that day and everyone is going to have players missing.
‘We would have probably had five and I'm sure other teams are likely to have players missing, everyone will be going (to Twickenham) because it is the big Six Nations clincher.
‘So that is why we wanted to get this game going and fair play to Footes Lane, the groundsman Shane Moon who put in a lot of work and said yep you can play.’

As for Tom Ceillam and the worrying sight of him limping around on crutches at the final whistle, Reynolds was upbeat.
‘It's still early days, the physio's will have a proper look at him now that the game is over. He could be a week or two out, but it won't be long term.’
And Horrocks, who looked done for as he came off just before the whistle?
‘He was just tired and his groin was tightening up a bit. Nothing to worry about.’

It took Raiders half an hour to get their first try of the day. Horrocks breaking off the back of a 5m scrum and Owen Thomas then hit the post with his conversion attempt.
The fly half was soon on the scoresheet though as he took a short pass from Kyle Brown to slide over from close range on the stroke of half-time to make it 10-0.
After the break, Raiders turned the screw.
Dan Hill got try number three after a classic catch-and-drive in the right-hand corner and then Sam Whitehead ran onto to a bouncing ball to score the bonus-point fourth try.
Luke Jones, who was superb all afternoon, then got the try he so richly deserved and soon after Horrocks added his second.
Thomas added the extras from all four second-half tries.
Guildford struck late through wing Alex Jordan, a try that was converted.
Raiders are at Shelford next week.

TEAMS
Guernsey Raiders: Craine, Ceillam, L. Batiste, Hillier, Merrien, Martin, Hill, Horrocks, K. Brown, Thomas, N. Brown, Jones, Armstrong, Sayer, Whitehead.
Replacements: Currie, Steventon, J. Batiste.

Guildford: Williams, Phillips, Mairs, Pollett, Burrill, Millward, Devereux, Garner, Burden, Fee, Andrews, Rust, Jordan, C. King, Hooper.
Replacements: Banks, Radford, B. King.