Raiders edge out Dings for bonus-point win

Raiders picked up a bonus-point win and their third consecutive victory in National 2 South thanks to second-half tries from Jordan Burns and Matt Miles.

The home side were trailing 19-17 at half-time and 25-17 eight minutes into the second half as Mark Woodrow slotted over two penalties, before Dings had two players sin binned and Raiders fought back to claim a vital win.

Raiders led 7-0 after just four minutes as Joe Govett converted Sam Hewick’s try, although Dings’ David Bufton pulled a try back four minutes later.

Hewick touched down his second on 22 minutes, but a converted try from Joe Joyce seven minutes later brought the score level at 12-12.

Burns burst through between two players on 36 minutes to put Raiders back ahead, although a missed conversion from Govett was to prove costly - Dings broke clear as the clock ticked onto 40 minutes and Woodrow added the extras for a 19-17 lead.

After the hosts’ second-half penalties and Raiders rang the changes, Burns went over for his second on 62 minutes, just after Dings had had Joyce yellow carded.

And after James Cooke was also sent to the bin, Miles squeezed through the back line on 68 minutes and Govett converted.

A tense few moments at the end saw Raiders hold their nerve to emerge with a battling victory.

Full report and reaction in Thursday’s paper.