Raiders edge thriller to end losing run

Worthing Raiders Rugby Club brought a ten-match National League 2 South losing run to an end at Roundstone Lane this afternoon.
Finlay Coxon-Smith bagged a try in Worthing Raiders' win this afternoon. Picture: Stephen GoodgerFinlay Coxon-Smith bagged a try in Worthing Raiders' win this afternoon. Picture: Stephen Goodger
Finlay Coxon-Smith bagged a try in Worthing Raiders' win this afternoon. Picture: Stephen Goodger

Second-bottom Raiders ran in five tries to ensure they secured a thrilling bonus-point 32-28 victory over two-places above Barnstaple.

Heading into the latest round of fixtures six points from safety, Worthing's win - coupled with bottom-side Exmouth beating third-bottom Barnes - helped Raiders closed the gap on safety to three points.

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Going into the game on the back of ten straight defeats, Raiders needed to start well and they did just that. Harry Forrest - who would go onto to complete a hat-trick of tries - burst through before going over inside five minutes.

Worthing started in flying fashion and they notched a second try less than ten minutes later. Another fine move saw Finlay Coxon-Smith race away, then find Forrest who surged over for his second of the afternoon. Making up for his earlier miss, Matt McLean converted as the home side went 12-0 ahead.

Barnstaple bounced back on the 20-minute mark with a converted try from Isaac Hydleman bringing them back to within five points of their opponents.

Raiders then ran in two tries in a matter of four minutes to open up a sizeable lead just after the half-hour. First, calamitous defending saw Coxon-Smith capitalise after Hydleman totally missed the ball on his own try-line. Then less than four minutes later, Kariym Iriving went over as Raiders opened up a 24-7 advantage five minutes before the break.

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Looking in command, Worthing gifted Barnstaple a way back three minutes later. Steven Perry latched onto Jacob Murphy's grubber-kick as the travelling side trailed by ten-points at half-time.

Just as in the opening 40 minutes, Raiders were off to a blistering start in the second running in eight unanswered points. McLean crashed over a penalty less than five minutes after the restart then, a converted hat-trick try from Forrest, helped Worthing surge into a 32-14 lead before 50 minutes were on the clock.

Having struggled to closed games out all season, Worthing faced a nervy finale with Barnstaple nearly pulling off a late comeback.

Matthew Gohl - who hadn't appeared to touch down - saw his try converted as Barnstaple closed the deficit to 11-points with 20 minutes left.

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Raiders were under constant pressure for the final 15 minutes with Scott Barlow shown a yellow on 75 minutes, meaning the home side would finish with 14. Jordan Petherbridge then converted his own try two minutes from time as Barnstaple closed to 32-28.

However, resilient work from Worthing in the final seconds helped them bag a first league win in 11 matches.

Raiders are back at home next Saturday with third-placed Old Elthamians coming to Roundstone Lane.

RAIDERS: Storer, Watson-Brooks, Gatford, Barlow, Lake, Lamb, Hewick, Perkins; Leeming, McLean, Irving, Loosmore, Richards, Coxon-Smith, Forrest. Replacements: Gearing-Grief, Sargent, Whittall, Wilcockson, Boyland.

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