Rugby: Raiders maintain 100% record with first win on the road

Monday 23 September 2024

Guernsey Raiders have passed their first test on the road with a second-half comeback against Havant.

Having already made the most of home comforts with two wins at Footes Lane, this is another box ticked on an impressive start to the season in National 2 East.

It was the first time Raiders have faced Havant, who were also unbeaten in these early stages after winning promotion to the National leagues last season, and they left with a 39-20 win.

But they did not make it easy. 

The home side opened the scoring with the game barely a minute old with a try by Wesley Dugan converted by Jacob Knight.

Not long after Dom Rice was sent to the sin bin and Raiders had dug themselves something of a hole they needed to get out of.

They did just that when Carter Hacket crossed and Ciaran Mcgann slotted the extras to bring the score level.

A Mcgann penalty on 25 minutes edged them in front, before Havant slotted two three pointers themselves as the half drew to an end to go into the changing rooms in-front.

While Raiders drew level again with another McGann penalty shortly after the restart, Havant scored the next converted try with Harrison Young touching down 10 minutes later.

From then on Guernsey grabbed hold of the game.

Mcgann scored on 59 minutes as a Havant player was sent to the bin and converted his own try to level the game at 20-20.

Havant lost Dylan Read to a yellow card in the 68th minute and the pressure just kept on building.

Raiders took the lead through a penalty try on 72 minutes, yet another infringement seeing the homeside losing another player to the bin, this time Thomas Lindsay.

Callum Roberts was responsible for the next Raiders try just three minutes later, securing the try bonus point in the process, while Jack Colbourne another as the game drew to a close, this one converted by Mcgann.

Raiders are third in the league, while the game also saw them hit the 100 point total for the season.