RUGBY: Raiders cruise into top six

Raiders touched down 10 tries, including two in the first five minutes, with a display that left coach Will Green delighted. He said: "It was really good and really pleasing.

"Often, when you score early on, it can be a bit of a poisoned chalice but, even though we were a bit sloppy at times, we kept going and everyone wanted to get on the trysheet.

"Bridgwater put a lot of effort in but we've had dark days of our own and you have to enjoy days like this as they don't come very often.

"I'm very chuffed and I've really enjoyed this season so far.

"Everyone has bought into what we are trying to do and it's really enjoyable after a pretty grim time last year, when we were battling relegation.

"The pleasing part from my point of view is that we have ambitious players. They're always trying to learn and want to get better '“ that's why we have done so well."

Green also believes the win sets Raiders up nicely for their trip to title-chasing Rosslyn Park on Saturday. Worthing beat Park 8-6 in December and Green said: "Our target this season was to beat a top team at home and we did that when we beat them in December.

"We haven't beaten a top team away yet and we've got that opportunity on Saturday. We're targeting the game and will go there to try to get the double over them."

On the team's goal now for the rest of the season, Green said: "Realistically, the top six is where we are at. We'll then look to build on that and get more depth in the squad."

Things could not have started any better for Worthing on Saturday when Joe Govett touched down after just 66 seconds for his 10th try of the season. He also passed 100 personal points for the season when he went over.

Raiders got their second try with just four and a half minutes on the clock when Greg Sullivan burst through to go over between the posts.

Matt McLean, who kicked eight of the 10 conversions, added the extras as bottom-of-the-table Bridgwater struggled to get in Raiders' half in the first 10 minutes.

McLean put a penalty over on 21 minutes before Joe Launchbury went over.

Bridgwater got their only points of the game on 32 minutes when Jack Childs touched down and moments later, they could have got another try but a poor final pass put an end to a promising situation.

In the second half, Jack Metters, on for Andy Rogers, who suffered a head injury, touched down within 30 seconds of his arrival to secure Worthing's bonus point for their fourth try on 45 minutes.

A lovely one-two pass between Chris Meddings and Jamie Redmayne on 53 minutes then saw Meddings leap over to score.

Worthing had Steve May sinbinned on 58 minutes but, even with just 14 men on the field, they got their sixth try when Ben Dudley was stopped just short of the line and Will Smith went over for his first Raiders try.

After May returned to the fold, Worthing ran in four tries in the final eight minutes.

Peter Cleveland, an early replacement for the injured Micky Pointing, was driven over, McLean beat three players to touch down, and Govett and Sullivan, after a run from inside his own half, both got their second of the game.

WORTHING: McLean, Govett, Sullivan, Meddings, Walker, Dudley, Rogers; Emmett, Pointing, Bruce, Launchbury, McGowan, Arthur, Redmayne, May. Subs: Cleveland (Pointing 11), Metters (Rogers 44), Bennett (Emmett 56), Smith (Launchbury 61), Dunckley.

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