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Rugby: Raiders roar to keep 100% home record intact

Rugby: Raiders roar to keep 100% home record intact

Monday 14 October 2024

Rugby: Raiders roar to keep 100% home record intact

Monday 14 October 2024


The tension was immense. With the clock ticking over 80 minutes, Guernsey Raiders were hammering away at Barnes as they had done for much of the closing quarter in search of the points that would tip the game back in their favour.

And then it happened.

A tidy cross field kick from Ethan Smith and Jack Colbourne was in.

The game was won and the roar from the Footes Lane faithful was deafening as that pressure erupted into rapture.

Ciaran McGann added the conversion but few were paying attention as the celebrations on and off the pitch took hold.

Raiders had beaten the third placed side 35-31 and Fortress Footes Lane remained unbreached this season.

Last week it was a last gasp loss at the leaders Tonbridge Juddians, this week a last gasp win, one that Raiders were good value for and one that also saved too many questions about the leniency of the officiating as their opponents persistently infringed in a bid to save their lead.

The tight nature of the game was illustrated by the fact the lead changed hands seven times.

There was a moment in the first half where Raiders had stretched out to a 17-7 lead after tries from Ethan Smith, Dom Rice, and Anthony Armstrong, but they were pegged back just a minute later when Thomas Spencer-Jones crossed for the visitor's second try and any sense of establishing dominance was dashed further with a penalty try in the 34th minute.

A late McGann penalty meant the sides went in 20-21 at half time.

Raiders_V_Barnes_stats.png

Anthony Armstrong scored a try for Raiders 10 minutes into the second period to give them the lead, but it was only minutes later that Havant were back on top when Jacques Birch scored.

Raiders took the penalty points that were offered up on 57 minutes in a sign of just how important it was to keep the scoreboard ticking over, 28-26.

When Birch crossed again on 60 minutes, it left Raiders trailing by three but with 20 minutes to do something about it.

They used all of that and more.

Tonbridge remain top having travelled to beat Havant  39-31.

On Saturday Raiders are away at Old Albanians, who have won four of their opening six ties.

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