RUGBY: Raiders get the double over Rosslyn Park

Raiders had been set the goal of beating one of the top three sides away from home by coach Will Green and they did it in style with a 33-23 win. They made another flying start, with two early tries, and another polished kicking display from Matt McLean, with 18 points, has made Worthing favourites for sixth place.

Team manager David Hinchcliffe said: "We originally had a target of beating one of the top teams at home and, when we did that, we said we'd try to turn one of them over away.

"Having lost at Barking early in the season, the chance had gone there and at Ealing we went ahead but lost it late on, so Saturday was very satisfying.

"What was nice was at home against Rosslyn we were hanging on a bit, but this time we won it fair and square and, honestly, the scoreline probably flattered them a little bit.

"With six minutes gone and 14-0 up against second in the league, you can't ask for more. They were a bit shell-shocked but did rally and got back into it, but once we stopped giving away penalties we started playing again.

"We are three points clear from Canterbury with a game in hand now.

They have no game this weekend, so if we can take some points from Henley we'll extend that. That's our target for the rest of the season, the boys are all looking for sixth, which is higher than our original aim."

It was Raiders' Paul Dunckley who made the first attack and broke through Park's defence before finding Greg Sullivan, who ran through to score, with McLean converting.

Just two minutes later, Sullivan had ball in hand again and ran through to this time score under the posts and McLean again added the extras to take Raiders 14-0 ahead.

Park got back into the game, firstly with two penalty kicks as a result of ruck infringements, before they stole possession and ran in a try, with the conversion hitting the post.

Worthing started to get back into the game after a good Park spell, and Park were reduced to 14 men when Stephen Paper received a yellow card for foul play in a ruck. McLean struck a long kick over from the resulting penalty, before adding another on 29 minutes to secure a healthy 20-11 lead at half-time.

Park's Paul Unseld went over in the corner shortly after the restart, but Park lost another player to the sinbin nine minutes into the second half when Howard Quigley deliberately obstructed and McLean's penalty sailed over.

A big kick forward sent Raiders deep into Park's 22, they maintained possession from the line-out and Raynn Bruce went over in the corner to open his account for the season.

On 65 minutes, a trade-mark Semi Taulava drive earned another penalty after Park held on illegally in the ruck, and McLean sent the penalty over to cap his total and seal a good day's work.

Raiders' Joe Govett then received a yellow card and Unseld broke through for a converted try. Dylan Pugh then spurned the chance to earn Park a losing bonus point in the 78th minute, as he hooked his 30-metre penalty to the left of the posts.

WORTHING: McLean, Govett, Dunckley, Sullivan, Walker, Dudley, Metters, Bruce, Pointing, Bennett, McGowan, Launchbury, Redmayne, Arthur, Taulava. Used subs: Emmett, Marsh.

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