PLAYED two, won two and a maximum haul of 10 points. Raiders fans could not have wished for anything better from their opening two National Three London and SE games which puts them amid the front runners at this embryonic stage of the season.

And, to cap a fine weekend for the club, Chris Griffiths' ladies trounced Worthing by fully 50 points away at Worthing - more on that convincing performance later in the week.
But after this latest bonus-point effort Raiders' director of rugby, Jordan Reynolds, who as early as last Tuesday predicted the first home game of the season would be played in rain and, yet again, was proved right, urged caution.

Yes, let there be some expectation of a strong season unfolding, but with Westcombe Park looming this weekend, 'caution' is the watchword along with 'breakdown'. Reynolds, whose weekend was made complete by his native Aussies win over the Springboks, said it would be silly not to be happy with two bonus point victories, but there was a lot of work to be done on defence and the breakdown.

'It was all good (on Saturday) but there are always a few things to work on,' said the coach. The conditions were terrible but we made our opportunities count and we had two or three more which we might have added.'

The tries came courtesy of Cameron Craine - who just can't stop scoring - Dave Davison, Layton Batiste and the stand-in skipper, Owen Thomas who added another seven points with his rusted boot.

The only downside was a worrying injury to Sam Whitehead who took a knock on his good knee and may have a but of a medial ligament strain. There was also further evidence that the Ned Brown-Luke Jones centre combination will be a highly effective one this coming winter and the coach is pleased, so far, with his back-line's efforts.

'I would like to have had a dry track on Saturday because our backs would have done some real damage. There is a lot of communication going through them at this time and that's brilliant for us.'

Meanwhile, new Kiwi Ken Hellier is in the running to make his debut away at Westcombe this weekend, 'He arrived last Thursday and we normally like to give guys a week to bed in. We will see how he goes in training on Tuesday and Thursday,' said the man in charge.

As for last Saturday, Chichester made the brighter start and they led early on through a converted try for Chris Johnson. But with Thomas slotting over a penalty and Craine diving over Raiders were ahead and just before the break Dave Davison was sent in and Thomas added the extras for a 15-7 interval lead,

Layton bulldozed over for the third try and the captain capped his great game with a skilful try. Meanwhile, at Tonbridge, big-spending Westcombe were getting the better of the Juddians, 17-7. Just like the rain at Footes Lane, it was an outcome Reynolds predicted would happen.

'I kind of thought that they would. I thought they were a good side last season and they will be good again this season.'

Teams

Raiders:
Craine, Ceillam, L. Batiste, Skovronek, Merrien, Hill, J. Batiste, M. Thomas; Nixon, O. Thomas, Brown, Jones, Whitehead, Davison, Sayer.
Replacements:
A. Armstrong, Steventon and Campbell.

Chichester:
Belcher, Shepherd, Dowding, Lindsay, Dickin, Johnson, Bentail, Davies, Seaman, Anscombe, Thompson, Maslen, Robson, Farmer, Golds.
Replacements:
Woodworth, Lumbard and Miller.