Relegated Worthing Raiders gave their supporters plenty of entertainment – but it ended in home defeat.
Raiders went down 52-40 to Westcombe Park at Roundstone Lane in their penultimate National Two East fixture of the season.
With Raiders already relegated, the final two games of the season are a chance for the squad to show what they can do with no pressure on them.
The season has been a catastrophe in terms of injuries. So many key players have been side lined for long periods and have missed many matches.
Selection was again difficult with Jack Lake, Kemp Price and Josh Taylor added to the unavailability list.
On the positive side, Will Beer, Fraser Bruce and Sam Myles returned to the squad and Alfie Ambrose was making his first appearance of the season after returning from university.
Rob Ure touched down after only three minutes and hooker George Gatford later scored, with Ed Hartley converting as Riders trailed 19-12.
Ben Featherstone later thought he had also scored as he dived over next to the posts but the referee deemed the ball to have been held up.
But Featherstone again crossed the line, and this time did touch down, before Hartley converted as Raiders trailed 26-19 at half-time.
Three tries in the first 12 minutes of the second half sent Westcombe Park clear.
Both Alfie Ambrose and Ben Featherstone made line breaks, pushing the Westcombe Park’s defence deeper, and the backs moved the ball across the field seeking a weak point to burst through.
This they achieved and as so often this season, it was Jack Forrest who made the incisive break to streak away and score. Hartley again added the extras to bring the score to 26-45.
Hartley later scored a try which he converted before goaling a score from right at the end.
Grant Gatford played nearly the whole game, as he did the previous week, at the age of 49 – but he insists he is retiring at the end of this season.
Hartley was named Raiders man of the march and the club are delighted to see him playing so well after breaking his arm earlier in the season and spending a long time on the sidelines.
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