Rugby preview: Raiders ready for clash with league leaders at Footes Lane

Friday 27 September 2024

Guernsey Raiders will look to preserve their 100% record when they line up against Canterbury.

Both sides have claimed maximum points from their first three outings in National 2 East, but Raiders director of rugby Jordan Reynolds knows that his team will now face tougher challenges than have been posed so far this season.

Raiders continue to juggle injuries, there were nine players out last week ahead of the Havant game.

While a coupe of those could return, that is balanced by the loss of others.

“Previously, if we had three or four guys out injured within our squad, generally, we were losing those games,” Reynolds said ahead of last night’s training session.

“We've got nine out at the moment and are still winning those games. So it shows that we've got great depth at the moment, but, touch wood, we don't want to go any further than nine. So it's been a trying time for us. Last week, we had to go with one back short, but hopefully we can get a couple of guys back, fit and ready, and to be fair, signs are good. We've had few of the guys train fully on Tuesday, and we just wanted to give them one more session, so signs are good that we might get one or two back.”

Reynolds was pleased with how his side had faced up to the different challenges thrown at them in the clashes with Worthing, Westcombe Park and then Havant.

“We had a red card in one of the games, and we had to deal with that for a long period. So we're pretty pleased with three wins from three at the moment, but unfortunately, the teams start getting tougher after this. Canterbury this weekend are a good side.”

Against Havant last Saturday Raiders conceded a try in the first two minutes and were trailing at the break, but they exerted control in the second half to win 39-20.

“There was things that we didn't get right, and we know that we're a little bit disappointed about some of our decision making and we got ourselves caught in a bit of a loop with panic in our own half. But to be fair, once again, we found a way to win. We ended up scoring five tries to two. So you know, it was a solid win away against a new team that we didn't really know much about.”

One of the focuses is on eliminating mistakes when exiting from defence.

“I think if we can get those small areas right and defend as well as we have, even against Havant, with a slow start, we still defended extremely well, I think you can back yourself to pull anything off on the day. But both sides look like they're pretty good sides, so it's going to be tough.”

Canterbury opened up with a 53-13 home win against Colchester, before travelling to Sevenoaks where they won 27-14. Last Saturday they beat Worthing 49-21.

Raiders beat Worthing 26-16 in their opening fixture, but played from the 32nd minute with 14 men.

The game kicks off at 4pm on Saturday following St Jacques Vikings v Bognor which starts at 1pm.