Raiders pick up losing bonus point against leaders

In heavy rain and muddy conditions at Roundstone Lane, Raiders battled hard throughout the match and head coach Kieron Dawson said: “It was a great performance, full of heart and no small margin of skill as well.

“It was good to get another point, that’s 17 bonus point from 17 games now. We’re getting more tactically astute and another win is just around the corner.

“The conditions didn’t suit us but the players adapted very well. The forwards were all magnificent today and the backs made their tackles and, with the conditions the way they were, I thought we played well.”

Doncaster took the lead after just three minutes through a Doug Flockhart penalty but Raiders responded well with a good spell of pressure and a Joe Govett penalty on 15 minutes levelled the score.

Within a minute, Doncaster were back ahead when Tyson Lewis went over but Flockhart was unable to add the extras.

Raiders did well to hold up Bevon Armitage over the line on 22 minutes but the visitors extended their lead three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty try and Flockhart’s conversion made the score 15-3.

Flockhart increased the lead on 36 minutes with a penalty, which made the half-time score 18-3.

Worthing began the second half well and Govett touched down a brilliant try when he faked a pass to find a gap through the Doncaster defence.

He then kicked the conversion to bring the score back to 18-10 after 43 minutes.

Flockhart kicked over a penalty on 52 minutes, while Raiders had Jamie Redmayne in the sinbin.

Both teams had a player yellow-carded on 60 minutes - James Chisholm for Worthing and Christoper Planchant for Doncaster - before Raiders got their second try five minutes later.

Charlie McGowan burst through to touch down from a line-out but the visitors held on to leave Roundstone Lane with the win.

Full match report, reaction and pictures in the January 9 edition of the Worthing Herald.