ANOTHER WIN SLIPS THROUGH OUR FINGERS

Another gut-wrenching home loss for Raiders who were on the verge of a third win of the campaign until Canterbury produced a huge push to win a hard-fought, even game with a long-range pushover score under the posts.
The game remained scoreless for more than half an hour but with 39 minutes on the clock and after multiple phases attacking the Canterbury line Robin Le Cocq stretched over close to the posts and fly half Henry Greenhalgh converted from close in for a 7-0 half time lead.

Canterbury narrowed the deficit via fly half Olly Best’s penalty on 52 minutes and soon after Canterbury winger Jonathan Murray dived over full stretch in the Hockey Club corner for an 8-7 lead.
On the hour mark Raiders won a penalty in front of posts and Greenhalgh knocked it over for a 10-7 advantage.
Eight minutes later Greenhalgh had another, much more testing chance to kick three points from 35 yards out, and he kicked it beautifully for a 13-8 lead.

Raiders had looked comfortable enough but with five minutes left Canterbury won their lineout on the 22 metre line and the shove went on and on, Raiders desperately trying to resist as the catch and drive moved across the pitch and slowly towards the posts.
Ultimately, with the whole pack guiding him over, Tom Best scored in front of posts and Olly Best kicked to win the game 15-13 and leave the home side with just a losing bonus point for their efforts.

Behind, Guernsey still had time to reply, but they needed the ball. The crowd was convinced that Guernsey had forced a knock on with a couple of minutes remaining.
To their disappointment play was allowed to continue with the ball adjudged to have gone backwards.
Moments later, the referee did award the Raiders a scrum following a more obvious knock-on on the Canterbury 22, but when the touch judge intervened the decision was reversed to a penalty for Canterbury.

The inability to use conditions to their advantage was an obvious frustration for the Guernsey coaches even though they had done so well to establish a 7-0 half-time lead having played the opening 40-plus minutes into the wind.
But, so frustratingly, after the turnaround, Raiders were unable to use the wind and play in Canterbury territory as their coach obviously wanted. The result leaves Raiders hovering above the relegation zone, just ahead of Old Redcliffians, Bees and London Irish Wild Geese.

TEAMS
Guernsey Raiders: Steventon, Ceillam, L. Batiste, Hillier, Merrien, Le Cocq, Rice, Horrocks, Clemett, Greenhalgh, Gow, J. Batiste, Ahne, Elliott, Armstrong. Replacements: Anderson, Craine, Shannon, Morisio, Bolton.
Canterbury: Green, Otto, Kenny, Cadman, Corker, Whetton, Stapleton, Roche, Braithwaite, O. Best, Murray, T. Best, Sterling, Grimes, Moss. Replacements: Smart, Cooper, Little, Morgan, Stephens.