Raiders slip to fifth straight league loss

WORTHING Raiders Rugby Club’s struggled in the National 2 South with a league loss at Bishop Stortford on Saturday.
Sam Aspland-Robinson sprints forward with the ball on SaturdaySam Aspland-Robinson sprints forward with the ball on Saturday
Sam Aspland-Robinson sprints forward with the ball on Saturday

Raiders’ latest defeat means they have lost each of their last five matches.

That run began with a home loss at Redingensians and defeats to Southend Saxons, Bury St. Edmunds and Cambridge followed.

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This time around it was Bishop Stortford who got the better off the division’s strugglers.

Owain Davies in action for RaidersOwain Davies in action for Raiders
Owain Davies in action for Raiders

The game began in difficult conditions with heavy rain and wind swooping across the ground.

This proved to be a bit of a leveller early on but the home side began to exert themselves as the half went on.

Raiders’ challenge got a lot tougher as they went down to 14 men when Sam Hewick received a yellow card on seven minutes.

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The home side made the most of their man advantage just three minutes later as they went ahead.

Sean O'Hagan in action for Raiders on SaturdaySean O'Hagan in action for Raiders on Saturday
Sean O'Hagan in action for Raiders on Saturday

Raiders conceded a penalty eight metres from the try line and they opted for a scrum. then converted to fire Stortford seven points in front.

The home side ran in another try on 14 minutes as Raiders

Worthing’s defence were unable to drive before collapsing and a penalty try was awarded.

Peirfrancesco Dotta then converted to fire Stortford seven points ahead.

Action from Raiders v Bishop Stortford on SaturdayAction from Raiders v Bishop Stortford on Saturday
Action from Raiders v Bishop Stortford on Saturday
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It got worse for Raiders soon after, as the home side bagged a second try on 15 minutes.

Slick passing along the backs saw Dotta collect a pass and sprint forward and go under the posts.

Dotta failed to add the extras but Stortford still led 12-0.

Worthing went down to 14 for a second time on 25 minutes as Liam Perkins was given his marching orders.

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Once again, Stortford made the most of their man advantage and went over for a third time in a dominant opening half-hour.

The home side’s forwards kept driving towards Raiders’ line and hooker Declan Caulfield drove over.

Dotta once again failed to add the extras but Stortford went 17 points ahead.

Worthing responded well, though, and registered their first points on 33 minutes thanks to Sean O’Hagan’s drop goal.

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But Stortford bagged the final points of the half through a Dotta penalty to ensure they led 20-3 at the break.

Raiders did not improve in the early part of the second and a number of mistakes saw them give away a high number of penalties.

Stortford were launching a series of attacks and were rewarded with a bonus-point fourth try on 50 minutes.

Dominic Morris received the ball and went over from 18 metres out to extend his side’s lead to 23 points.

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This seemed to spark Worthing into life and they improved for the remaining 30 minutes.

Their efforts were rewarded on 65 minutes as they were awarded a penalty try after Stortford collapsed a maul near the try line.

O’Hagan made no mistake with the penalty to make it 25-10.

The final quarter of the game was scoreless but Worthing finished the brighter which will give them hope going into their next match.

Raiders host second-bottom Chinnor on Saturday as they look to end a five game losing streak.

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RAIDERS: Storer, Luke, Sargent, Barlow, Arthur, White, Hewick, Perkins; Leeming, O’Hagan, Nielsen, Peach, Aspland-Robinson, Wilcockson, Davies.

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