Raiders roll over Canterbury to make it four from four

Monday 30 September 2024

Guernsey Raiders are on a roll!

Another home win in the bag, another set of maximum points, and the Footes Lane faithful left their fortress with a skip in their step.

In retaining their unbeaten run, Raiders ended Canterbury’s and climbed another spot to second in National 2 East and can look forward with some confidence to facing two big challenges, on the road to Tonbridge Juddians next Saturday and home to Barnes on Saturday 12 October.

Pictured: Josh Poullet claims a first half lineout. 

You could be picky about a couple of aspects of the game.

Raiders trailed by eight points after just five minutes, Frank Reynolds slotting a penalty for the visitors and Garry Jones crossing. 

It could have been a bigger gap but for the missed conversion and another penalty sailing wide.

They also gave their opponents a sniff when they conceded a try just on half time, again Jones touching down, leaving the score 17-13 as they went in.

Before that they had worked their way on top with Ciaran Mcgann slotting a penalty, then on 26 minutes finishing off a sharp move through the backs and converting his try. 

Pictured: Anthony Armstrong leaves players floored in his wake on a charge in the second half.

Anthony Armstrong was unstoppable on the right wing just four minutes later, Mcgann again converting.

Raiders came out and put the game to bed with three unanswered tries to begin the second half, strangling their opponents with dominant work off the lineout in the corner. 

Liam Welch was on the ball for the first two of those three and Ethan Smith the third, with Mcgann adding one conversion.

Pictured: Liam Welch with the first of his tries early in the second period.

Raiders were 34-13 up, the sun was shining, the try bonus point was secured.

Canterbury then began to eke their way back again.

Pictured: Frank Reynolds sends the ball wide from the boot.

A cross field kick led to Jones sealing his hat trick and Reynolds added the conversion.

On 63 minutes Reynolds slotted another three points and the game had taken another shift with 11 points in it.

Pictured: the front rows get ready for a scrum.

But Raiders managed the closing 20 minutes well, and finished the match on a high with a converted Callum Roberts try just before the whistle went leaving the score at 41-23.

Pictured top: the Raiders' players celebrate driving over for a try.