LUKE SAYER scored a hat-trick of tries and there were one apiece from Glenn Walters and Tom Malagodi as Raiders eased to the points in their second to last game of the National Three London and SE campaign.

But eased was the operative word for head coach Jordan Reynolds, who reckoned the mental attitude of his side was not right going into the game and did not give struggling Gravesend the respect they deserved. ‘It was a bit scrappy and we struggled in the first half when we failed to build any momentum. But there were some good points but we should have paid them more respect.'

The bonus-point win keeps the side five points clear of seventh-placed Shelford who edged a close game with Chichester, while at the top of the table leaders London Irish Wild Geese - who come here on the last day of the season - saw their lead cut to three after a shock 25-25 draw with Hertford.

But at Footes Lane Raiders may have crossed the line five times but ‘probably left another four tries out there’ said the coach of a five-try win with a bonus point.'

Gravesend enjoyed a huge amount of territory and possession, but they lacked the attacking imagination of Raiders and fullback Luke Sayer had completed a hat-trick within half-an-hour.

His first try gave Guernsey a sixth-minute lead with a simple finish in the left-hand corner after a Gravesend line-out deep inside their own 22 went astray and Raiders quickly moved the ball along the backline to utilise their overlap.

Sayer doubled the lead five minutes later before Gravesend put their first points on the board via a Jacob Berthelsen penalty on 15min. but that was to be their only success of the afternoon and quarter-of-an-hour, Sayer all-but made the game safe.

New Zealander Malcolm Barnes showed all his experience in drawing the last defender towards him before slipping the ball inside to the supporting Sayer who had an untouched run to the posts to give Thomas his first conversion of the game.

Sadly, that was to be Sayer's final contribution as he left the action with a shoulder injury moments later. Guernsey managed to see out the 10 minutes either side of the interval when they were down to 14 with Ceillam in the sin bin and as soon as he returned, the forwards piled over in the corner for a try credited to Tom Malagodi.

Thomas converted and also the final try of the game, which came eight minutes later when Walters burst through.

The 2nds were also in action and having trailed Gravesend 2nds 22-0 at the break won the second half for a final whistle scoreline of 12-29.