Raiders hold on for bonus-point win

WORTHING Raiders Rugby Club returned to winning ways with a 24-22 victory at home to Bishop’s Stortford this afternoon.
Matt McLeanMatt McLean
Matt McLean

After two narrow defeats, Raiders were on the right end of the result this weekend as they just edged a tight encounter in National 2 South.

Josh Ibuanokpe touched down Raiders’ opening try on seven minutes and Matt McLean’s conversion made the score 7-0.

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Bishop’s Stortford replied on 18 minutes when Richard Gill went over and Thomas Coleman’s conversion levelled the score.

Coleman hit the post with a penalty on 25 minutes, before Worthing went back ahead six minutes later.

After Raiders were held up a couple of times, Ben Dudley found a gap to skip through to go over, although McLean was off target with the conversion.

The visitors levelled on 35 minutes when John Neville forced his way over but Coleman missed the conversion.

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Worthing went ahead for a third time seven minutes into the second half when Alex Nielsen went over in the corner from Kieran Leeming’s pass. An excellent conversion from McLean made the score 19-12.

Neville’s second try of the game on 53 minutes made it 19-17 but Coleman was unable to add the extras.

Bishop’s Stortford had Gill sinbinned on 56 minutes but the visitors went ahead while a man down when Nicholas Hankin touched down to make the score 22-19.

Raiders went back ahead on 69 minutes through Nielsen’s second try of the game but McLean missed the conversion.

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Bishop’s Stortford opted not to kick a penalty, just inside Raiders’ half, with two minutes to go and Worthing’s defence stood firm, before they pushed the visitors’ Matthew Tomlinson into touch to bring the game to a close.

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