Raiders beaten on the road with the champions up next

Tuesday 16 April 2024

Guernsey Raiders were left to settle for a losing try bonus point on the road at Bury St Edmunds.

It was the hosts last home game of the season, and they gave their fans plenty to be pleased about in a 56-24 win.

As this match played out, elsewhere in National 2 East Esher won the title with a 50-28 win over closest rival Dorking, securing an immediate return to the third tier.

At the GK IPA Haberden, Raiders were 21 points down before they registered their first points.

Bury had opened the scoring with a try from George Loose which was converted by Ben Penfold. Matt Bursey went in under the posts for the second and Kodie Drury-Hawkins touched down for their third, both were converted.

Callum Roberts hit back with a deserved try which was converted by Ciaran McGann.

The sides traded two more tries before half time.

Man of the match Will Christie scored for Bury, again converted by Penfold, before Raiders conjured up a chip, chase and neat pass to send McGann in.

A failed conversion left Raiders 28-12 down as the whistle went.

Bury made a quick start to the second period, with Archie Bourne scoring, and Callum Hall, who had just come on as a replacement for Penfold, slotting the extras.

Raiders would not go away, and their third try came from the forwards, with Tom Ceillam finishing off a catch and drive and McGann converting.

Bury edged away again when Bursey scored his second, Hall again converting, before Raiders secured their bonus point when Carter Hackett crossed from a chip and chase.

The game was 62 minutes old and it was the end of Raider's points scoring.

Christie and William Affleck added two more tries for the home side, the first converted by Hall and the second by Bursey.

Raiders could climb up to eighth with their game in hand against Esher, but they would need the win and bonus point.

They then finish the season at home to fourth placed Henley on Saturday 27 April.