Guernsey Raiders 1st XV
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Sat 16 Nov 2019  ·  London & SE Premier
Bedford Athletic
29
34
Guernsey Raiders
Guernsey Raiders 1st XV
Tries: J Pinkney, T Ceillam (2), R Le Cocq, M ArmstrongConversions: O Thomas (3)Penalties: O Thomas
RAIDERS GO SECOND

RAIDERS GO SECOND

Katie Daunt18 Nov 2019 - 19:47
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Bedford Athletic 29 Raiders 34

RAIDERS played a dream first half hour and then went to sleep on the 3G at Bedford Athletic.
Nevertheless, they ended the day lying second in the London and SE Premier table after, remarkably, Rochford Hundred lost at home to CS Stags.
‘We played some of the best rugby I’ve ever seen a Raiders side play during those first 30 minutes,’ said the coach having had a night’s sleep to fully assess the display.
‘We were so dominant,’ he added.
‘But a huge amount of credit should go to Bedford as their backline was absolute class.
‘I wouldn’t want to discredit Bedford at all, but after 30 minutes we completely switched off and there was no structure to our play.
‘We became a but more individual and players were playing for themselves. But, in the end, we scrapped it out and from a tough game we got five points.
‘Our back row probably played some of the best rugby and the three open sides that we picked had total control.’
Raiders flew out of the blocks to lead 31-17 by half-time.

But in the second half the visitors managed to add just one Owen Thomas penalty.
Bedford had started well with a five-minute spell of constant attack which the green and whites duly halted with fine defence.
Having weathered the storm Douglas Horrocks broke from the Raiders half and with fellow back rower Robin Le Cocq stormed up the pitch eventually setting up prop Jacob Pinkney to crash over for a try which was converted by Owen Thomas.
It was soon 12-0.
Again the home team drove their way into the Raiders half only for a Tom Ceillam interception to send Owen Thomas and his fellow backs on the attack.
This time centre Matt Armstrong cut a fine running line and cruised over the try line.
This time, Thomas's kick struck an upright.
Raiders were now in full control and continued to dominate the proceedings with the home side conceding a few penalties.
The green and whites kicked for the 22 and from the catch and drive move sent prop Sam Steventon on the charge.
He then popped the pass to Robin Le Cocq who ran in the try which the centre converted for a 19-0 lead.
The home side then sliced their own way through the Raiders defence for a converted try.
For a while the game flowed backwards and forwards but Bedford's further infringements set up another catch and drive for the Raiders forwards to capitalise upon.
This time Tom Ceillam came up with the ball after being driven over the try line.
Thomas missed the conversion attempt but Raiders continued to control the game and following another attack through the backs Ceillam smashed his way over for his second try, converted by Thomas for a 31-7 lead.
Then to the Raiders’ purist tactical eye it all went pear-shaped.
Athletic produced a catch and drive of their own from a lineout and their pack drove over the try line for a converted score.
The half ended with Raiders conceding yet another penalty and the three points from the boot of Leo Mortimer gave the half-time score of 17-31 something Bedford to build on.
The second half was initially a stalemate with Raiders pounding at the door and the home side defending like demons.
A penalty attempt midway through the half was pushed wide by Thomas but from the following 22 drop out another Athletic penalty, which also produced a yellow card for one of the home players, allowed Thomas to make amends with a successful kick.
Bedford stuck to their guns and their never say die attitude forced the Raiders into another error and produced a further try for Steve Smith.
The gap was 12 and with the game fizzling out and into the last play, Athletic had the put in at a scrum.
Josh Cassell scored a fine converted try and the final whistle blew.
Sad to say, there were casualties for Raiders.
Jacob Pinkney damaged his wrist which will require an X-ray to determine whether there is a fracture.
Matt Armstrong also went off with a neck injury.

Match details

Match date

Sat 16 Nov 2019

Kickoff

14:00

Competition

London & SE Premier

League position

3
Guernsey
9
Bedford Athletic
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Gold Sponsor - Babbé
Silver Sponsor - Polygon Collective
Charitable Partner - Betway
Sponsor of the Director of Rugby - Doyle Motors
Kit Sponsor - Fletcher Sports
Travel Kit Sponsor - Fresh Dental
Official Kit Supplier - Gilbert
Bronze Sponsor - Leapfrog Recruitment Consultants
Silver Sponsor - Little Big Group
Silver Sponsor - LTS Tax
Travel Kit Sponsor - MSF
Club Sponsor - Praxis IFM
Silver Sponsor - Rossborough Insurance
Shirt Sponsor - Spring
Shorts Sponsor - Wordley Law