Raiders get bonus-point win against Cinderford

WORTHING Raiders Rugby Club made it back-to-back home wins in National 1 with a 34-22 victory over Cinderford this afternoon.
Sam Hewick touched down Raiders' fourth try against CinderfordSam Hewick touched down Raiders' fourth try against Cinderford
Sam Hewick touched down Raiders' fourth try against Cinderford

Raiders responded superbly from their 31-20 defeat at bottom-of-the-table Hull Ionians the previous week and led 17-0 after just 15 minutes.

Joe Govett kicked over a penalty after just two minutes, before Raiders touched down the first of their five tries on eight minutes. Kieran Leeming, who was a late call-up to the starting line-up, brilliantly caught a long Cinderford kick, burst forward and passed out wide to Liam Perkins, who dived over.

Govett added the extras to give Raiders a 10-0 lead.

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Raiders touched down their second try on 15 minutes when Finlay Coxon-Smith stormed forward, surging past several tackles, before passing out wide to Alex Nielsen, who touched down and Govett again converted.

Cinderford did not get into Raiders’ half in the opening half-hour but began to threaten as the half wore on and got a try back on 33 minutes.

The visitors switched the ball wide to the right after Charlie McGowan’s last-ditch tackle prevented Marcus Brown from touching down and Alex Pickersgill went over in the corner but Michael Wilcox missed the conversion.

Worthing extended their lead on the stroke of half-time when Joe Govett kicked the ball over the Cinderford defence for Nielsen to run on to, kick forward and touch down his tenth try of the season.

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Govett was unable to add the conversion but Raiders led 22-5 at half-time.

Raiders had Scott Barlow sinbinned seven minutes into the second half and the visitors made the extra man count immediately as they were awarded a penalty try and Wilcox added the conversion.

Cinderford got another try back on 58 minutes when George Evans touched down and Wilcox’s conversion made the score 22-19.

Worthing secured the four-try bonus point on 67 minutes when Sam Hewick dived over under the posts and Govett kicked the extras to give Raiders a ten-point cushion.

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A penalty from Wilcox made it 29-22 with eight minutes to go but Raiders ensured the visitors would return home without a losing bonus point as man-of-the-match McGowan fed Ollie Richards, who ran from his own half to touch down in the last minute and make the final score 34-22.

Full report, reaction and pictures in the November 21 edition of the Worthing Herald.

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