EIGHT tries, a virtually flawless kicking display by Owen Thomas and revenge for the early season defeat by the Saxons. No wonder Jordan Reynolds was happy at the final whistle at Footes Lane. 'We want that fifth place and that would be the highest we have ever reached as a club,' said the coach as he allowed the pleasure of a superb second-half display flow over him.

The bonus-point win was just what the proverbial doctor ordered after two narrow defeats away and despite a fine win for Shelford over Hertford, the gap has opened to eight points between Raiders and those 'Shelfordians' in sixth.

It was a highly impressive win, although it has to be said Saxons looked a highly dangerous outfit for two-thirds of the match before Raiders' power took over. Some of the ball-handling was a joy to watch and, although he did not get himself on the scoresheet, Malcolm Barnes gave everyone a few reminders of his lasting brilliance with some surging runs which got the pulses racing.

Veteran Jim Elliott too showed everyone that he is not yet ready to hang his boots up, with numerous lovely jinking runs from the centre before he took his bow in the closing stages and allowed Blair Campbell his own cameo.

By the end, seven different Raiders had added their names to the scoresheet, plus the always grateful Mr Penalty Try, while our superb fly-half kicked a total of 20 points out of a possible 22. Isn't it wonderful to see the Welshman playing with so much verve and confidence again 10 months after that horrible ankle injury in last year's Siam?

It was generally great stuff from Jordan Reynolds' men although he felt the need to tear into them at the break. Although Raiders led 22-14 at half-time, Reynolds had not been happy with their performance and, at that stage, Saxons looked well capable of completing the double over the Guernsey side.

But half-time changed all that and by the end Saxons, who have been hit hard by a 10-point penalty for disciplinary misdemeanours, looked well beaten.

It took eight minutes of the first half before the scoreboard was ticked over, with Thomas kicking a penalty from in front of the posts to give the Raiders an early lead, but they had to dig deep and defend for their lives at times before Sam Steventon dived over from close range with a penalty advantage being played.

Thomas converted and it got even better as Saxons, briefly down to 14, conceded another pass close to the line and Tom Ceillam had his hands on the ball as the pack pushed him over. For the only time in the game Thomas's kick was off target, and with half time approaching the impressive Saxons winger George Griffiths spotted gaps in the home defence to dart over, both scores being converted. In-between those two Griffiths efforts, Raiders had produced number four, again kicking for the corner and going over via Ceillam in a successful catch and drive move.

As half-time arrived Raiders were 22-14 in front and there remained an air of danger about the Saxons. It wasn’t to last. From the restart Raiders came out fast and after forcing another penalty Lewis Hillier was on the end of another catch and drive score, this time in front of the gym.

Burr missed a penalty kick from halfway shortly after and when Thomas answered with a successful kick of his own, Raiders looked to have the game won at 32-14. A penalty try followed and momentarily it seemed Malcolm Barnes had got the ball down in the corner, then Romain Mercadal added his own from another forwards effort and the half-century was reached when Adam Nixon ran onto Sam Whitehead's clever kick forward to end to a super move started by Steventon's offload.

Whitehead then completed the scoring with a try in the Hockey Club corner.

TEAMS

Raiders:
Steventon, Ceillam, L. Batiste, Skovronek, Merrien, Hillier, Mercadal, Hill, Nixon, O. Thomas, Barnes, J. Batiste, Elliott, Whitehead, Hellier.

Replacements:
Craine, M.Thomas, Campbell.

Southend Saxons:
Strachan, Bloomberg, Bailey, O'Kill, Fombo, Smith, Newton, Legge; Gould, Ashton, Cleare, Vaughan, Burr, Griffiths, O'Brien.

Replacements:
Forster-Knight, Day-White, Radzevicius.