In-form Blaydon too strong for Raiders

Sam Hewick touched down for Raiders at Blaydon

WORTHING Raiders Rugby Club head coach Kieron Dawson conceded that his side had bigger games to come after their 45-14 defeat at Blaydon on Saturday.

Blaydon went into the game unbeaten in nine league games and comfortably beat Raiders, who took the opportunity to rest five first-choice players with two big games to come – against Old Albanian at Roundstone Lane on Saturday and then away to Blackheath – before Christmas.

Charlie McGowan and Kiba Richards did not travel, while Sam Hewick, captain Matt Miles and Joe Govett were all substitutes.

Dawson said: “We made a few changes as we’ve got bigger games to come and bigger fish to fry.

“We’d been patching Charlie and Kiba up for the last few games, Matt as well, and they’d been going from game to game without training.

“We thought it was a chance to give them some time off and have a heavy week in training this week, ahead of two big games.

“If we can pick up six or seven points from the next two games, then we’re going to be in a much better position.”

Blaydon made a quick start on Saturday and had the four-try bonus point wrapped up after just 29 minutes.

A driving line-out score by Jason Smithson in the third minute began the scoring, before Tom Jeffery, Keith Laughlin and then Smithson, again from another maul, made it 26-0 at half-time.

Raiders improved in the second half, although Sean Brown did touch down again for the hosts to increase their lead, before Worthing scored two tries.

Hewick went in from close range, before Alex Nielsen touched down his 13th try of the season after a fortuitious bounce. Finlay Coxon-Smith converted both tries.