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REACTION: Shelford 27 - 25 Raiders

REACTION: Shelford 27 - 25 Raiders

Alexandra Wallace16 Nov 2015 - 19:48
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DEFLECTING on Saturday's two-point loss away to Shelford, head coach Jordan Reynolds has tried not to be too critical.

Jordan is fully aware just how hard it is for anyone to win in this remarkably tight division, as Saturday's results highlighted.
'It's crazy (this league),' said Jordan.
'As much as I want us to win and improve, we are already batting above our weight. When you hear how much Shelford are spending, how many teams they have got - five to our two - there is a big difference from those clubs and ourselves, so we do pretty well.'

That said, he was not enamoured with the first half display which saw us 11 points down at the break and chasing the game.
'It wasn't what it was supposed to be cracked up to be,' said Jordan.
'The two yellow cards didn't help, but definitely we didn't front up, which was a pity after last week. I'd say it as individuals going to sleep and half-time could not come quick enough. We did enough to win it in the second half, but really we can't complain.'

Hooker Tom Ceillam, who will be profiled in this Saturday's match programme, said that the team is still looking for that 80 minute team performance, but it is not far away, 'We have been going pretty well this season. We have had a couple of up and down performances and we don't seem to start well. But we are improving,' said our hooker, who had another strong performance with his match stats right up there with the best.

This is how Shelford’s man on the spot saw the game:
Home report:
A Josh Simmons penalty in the final moments of the game secured a 27-25 victory for Shelford against Guernsey in soggy conditions at the Davey Field.
With a relentless deluge beleaguering both teams for the entire match, it was miraculous any tries were scored at all, let alone four in the first half.
Playing with the wind behind them, Shelford responded to the first of Guernsey’s six kicked penalties with a Mark Ryder try from close range.
Slick handling between Dwayne Lese and Tom Lucas put Andy Scott under the posts before Tom Ransom collected an errant pass with his rangy grasp to give his team a 21-3 lead.
Shelford appeared in control of the game as the first half drew to a close but their dominance receded as a Guernsey try initiated a sequence of 19 unanswered points for the visitors.
Finding themselves a point behind, unable to escape their 22 and with the wind blasting rain into their faces, Shelford dug deep and wended their way into opposition half, where a Simmons penalty regained the lead.
Frustratingly, the clock was running ten minutes fast, which gave false hope not just to Guernsey, who took what they may have assumed to be the decisive lead through another penalty, but also the spectators praying for shelter.
It was welcome relief, however, for Shelford, providing enough time for Simmons to kick the winning penalty and then watch as his forwards saw out an attrition game with countless pick-and-goes.

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