ALMOST A PERFECT DAY

A perfect day would have been to keep Wimbledon from getting a bonus point, but we must not be greedy.
However, this was a fantastic effort to end the ‘Mighty Dons’ unbeaten record in London and SE Premier this season, although there was not that much in it, as our head coach, Jordan Reynolds, observed.
‘All-round to get the bonus point win is everything we had hoped for.’

Tactically, Raiders worked to their plans.
‘We wanted to be on top of their catch and drive and I think we did that.
‘We also wanted to be patient when we got in their 22.’
It was, of course, massive team effort but Reynolds recognised the huge efforts of the pack.
‘The pack had a hard contest and overall probably just slightly on top of theirs.
‘I thought we dominated the set-pieces. The work rate was superb and good to see.
‘Obviously we didn’t plan to be behind first up on the scoreboard.
‘It was a mistake of ours but we didn’t let it get to us too much. We kept working hard and the boys put in a big shift’
As to be expected Wimbledon flew out of the blocks but we held firm and through the forwards powered our way into the game.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, from an attack in the Wimbledon 22, the home side struck with a counter attack when the ball became loose.
Their sharp backs kicked ahead and won the chase for a fine try, which went unconverted.

The Raiders continued to force Wimbledon onto the back foot and eventually a catch and drive half an hour in provided dividends for the away team with Nick Merrien being driven over the try line by a combination of backs and forwards. With Wimbledon thundering back the Raiders defence again held strong but a Raiders infringement allowed the home side to slot over a penalty for an 8-5 lead.

But we were not behind for long.

Centres Tom Teasdale and Matt Armstrong showed their class when they combined to send the industrious scrum-half Jake O’Connor over for a fine try under the posts. Joe Andersen converted and we were ahead at half time.

During the break coaches Reynolds and Melbourne addressed the backs and forwards respectively.
The message was stick to the game plan.
With five minutes on the clock the Raiders combined to send Anthony Armstrong on a “one on one” against his opposite winger and he duly produced a stunning try in the corner.
The conversion was missed.
But Wimbledon were far from done and when a clearance kick fell to their speedy winger, he tore through the green and whites defence to send his fellow back in for a try.

The conversion was missed and it was back to 13-17.

Undeterred, Raiders forced their way back time and time again and eventually a break from Jake O’Connor set up the forwards and their power and patience sent the ever reliable Cameron Crane over for the bonus point try.

Now nine points behind Wimbledon continued to fight to preserve that impressive record.

What looked a certain Raiders try was thwarted by the home side’s dogged defence and the home side slotted over a penalty to get themselves within seven and a valuable losing bonus point. Raiders responded with their own penalty attempt from Joe Andresen which sailed just past the side of the posts.

It was soon all over and Raiders had closed to within two points of the table-toppers, a brilliant result and hopefully a statement of intent for the rest of the season.

This weekend it is Guildford at home.

TWENTY-FOUR hours later the Raiders Ladies led an encouraging lead slip in the closing minutes to draw 12-12 with Heathfield & Waldron at Footes Lane.

The UK side had won their home match against Steve Evans’ team comfortably, but the islanders have improved markedly and they looked so good for a fourth straight win until the late blip.

An early try by Becky Ashworth put Raiders ahead and in the second half Tanya Scholtz extended the lead under the posts and Aimee Le Bachelet added the extras.

Guernsey Raiders Ladies pressed hard for a third, decisive score, but by then they had lost the influential fly half Justeen Baker who needed to be carried off.

Heathfield & Waldrom hit back with two late tries and there was widespread relief when her second conversion attempt sailed just wide.