Rampant Raiders on cloud nine at Barking

WORTHING Raiders Rugby Club demolished Barking on Saturday as another rampant display saw them run in nine tries in a bonus-point victory.

Raiders eased to back-to-back wins in National 2 South over a Barking side who were relegated from the division above last season and are struggling to find their feet so far this term.

Kieron Dawson’s side, however, are facing no such problem as they have so far scored 16 tries in just two games with points coming from across the team – last season’s top scorer Matt McLean made a healthy return on Saturday, sealing 22 for his tally.

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Worthing led 27-3 an the interval and never looked back in the second half, but Dawson is well aware there are harder test to come.

He said:“ It’s hard to gauge where we are so far with the teams we have played, with one coming up and one down.

“We’ve started up nicely, though, but haven’t hit our straps yet, the players know that and the coaches know that.

“Barking showed a bit of endeavour and tackled well, but we scored when we wanted really. We are still a long way off of where we need to be to compete at the top.”

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McLean stuck over an early penalty after Barking offended under pressure and as Raiders gradually turned up the heat, after 10 minutes, the same man was freed just inside the home half and paced forwards to cross.

Barking laboured in possession and soon lost two of their players to yellow cards for killing the ball in the rucks, which allowed Worthing to score two more tries, the first seeing McLean again cross before James Arthur crashed down to take the score to 20-3.

Sam Hewick then plunged through under the posts in typical style and the conversion made it 27-3 at half-time.

After a scrappy spell at the start of the second half, Worthing broke through again and Darren Clayton scored with McLean adding the extras.

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Barking were then losing their scrums and Worthing took complete control as Joe Govett scored a splendid individual try from a kick and chase, and following a fortuitous bounce replacement Jamie Redmayne put down a brace of tries.

Alex Neilsen touched down with still 10 minutes to go as McLean’s kicking moved the score onto 58-3.

Raiders host Canterbury this weekend and Dawson is expecting a tougher test, he added: “Charlie McGowan and Rob Smith took blows at the weekend and a few others with knocks will be unavailable.

“So it’s week three and we are already talking about testing our squad depth, but hopefully, we have strengthened enough to do that.”

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WORTHING: McLean, Maslen, Richards, Clayton, Neilsen, Luke, Govett, Pointing, Miles, McIntyre, Stutchbury, McGowan, Arthur, Hewick, Smith. Replacements: Burns, Redmayne, Leeming, Farnes, Cleveland.

National 2 South results: Launceston 24, Hartpury College 24; Lydney 7, Canterbury 35; Southend 7, Henley 64; Taunton Titans 18, Dings Crusaders 16; Bournemouth 41, Chinnor 29; Clifton 24, Shelford 32.

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