PERHAPS the lads should rush to away games more often. With fog playing havoc at Gatwick, Jordan Reynolds’ men were late getting into London and had to change on the coach and get straight into a 20 minute warm-up ahead of a delayed kick-off down on the Sussex south coast.

But it did us no harm and having raced into a 17-3 lead the platform had been set for an important win on the road and one which keeps us nicely placed in the top six at the Christmas break.

Guernsey’s first attack of the game forced a scrum which saw Adam Nixon sniping his way through the Chichester defence with a 22 metre run to score under the post. Kenny Hellier carried on where he left off the previous week and nailed the kick for a 7-0 lead, but he is not infallible and when Raiders won a penalty soon after he pushed it just wide of the posts.

Soon after it was 7-3 as Chichester forced a penalty for offside which they duly kicked.
Both teams were utilising a kicking game, Chichester, to get out of their own half, and Raiders in an effort to pin the home side in the corners.

From one such move and Raiders lineout a well-structured catch and drive followed by some sharp handling on the blind side resulted in Tom Ceillam driving over for a try. Owen Thomas took on the kick and having split the posts Raiders led 14-3, which was stretched by three more points as Thomas nailed one of the sweetest drop goal kicks you will ever see from a difficult angle.

Chichester temporarily lost their stand-off to a yellow card but the home side took the game to Guernsey and forced a penalty which they converted to reduce the deficit and then quickly follow it up with a try for the winger in the corner.

With the conversion missed Raiders led 17-11 at the break but on resumption they found themselves under heavy pressure and having to kick out of their own half to relieve the pressure on numerous occasions.

Chichester were using their No. 8 as the main route of attack, but it all became a bit predictable with the Raiders defence tackling well to stop the Chichester attacks. When Chichester did eventually breakthrough they butchered two try opportunities with a forward pass as the line beckoned. Guernsey capitalised on 25 minutes, and with Dan Hill back on having served a yellow card, Raiders struck decisively.

With the visitors controlling the lineout and scrum areas they fought their way out of their own half resulting in a scrum on the Chichester try line and Hill forcing his way over. On this occasion, Thomas was unable to convert from the sideline and Chichester responded well with a good combined team effort for a converted try in the corner.

With the light fast diminishing with every minute, it was 18-22 and with Chichester going all out hell for leather to score another try Raiders had to stay calm. They did just that and having forced their way into the Chichester half they won a penalty which Thomas kicked to wrap up the victory.

Unfortunately, hopes of leapfrogging Shelford in the table and up to fifth did not materialise as Shelford won at Colchester. But, nevertheless, the coach was more than happy, ‘Our boys did really well and I don’t think I could name one player who stood out above the rest. Across the park everyone got stuck in.’

Interestingly, next up for Shelford after the festivities are much-improved Chichester who have taken 11 points from a possible 15 in their last three games.

Raiders return to action at home to Westcombe Park on 7 January followed by Shelford at ‘The Lane’ the week after. Two big games and challenges for the club that if they can be overcome will set up Raiders for a strong second half of the season.

Raiders:
Sam Steventon, Tom Ceillam, Layton Batiste, Dale Martin, Nick Merrien, Paddy Ryan, Romain Mercadal, Dan Hill, Adam Nixon, Owen Thomas, Ned Brown, Matt Armstrong, Sam Whitehead, Dave Davison, Kenny Hellier

Replacements:
Nico Ashplant, Leon Gardner, Anthony Armstrong

Chichester:
Deavall Shepherd, Belcher, O'Callaghan, Dickinson, A. Davies, Grace (capt.), Johnson, Anscombe, Adams, Seaman, Thompson, Farmer, Woodhouse, T. Davies, Vadei, Wallace and Evans