Rugby men give Barnes a lesson

Raiders completely dictated the first half to go 28-6 up, then Barnes, to salvage pride and limit damage, kept a tighter game going in second half. They dried up the Worthing scoring but could add their only try with the game already five minutes into added time and Worthing a man short when, with all replacements on, they had to withdraw the injured Simon Alcott.

Place kicker Ben Coulson was on the ball for Raiders and another new recruit who is from New Zealand, Duncan Gundersen, announced his arrival on the wing with a try out wide on the right. This was Coulson's last conversion attempt kick of the half and the only one in which he was defeated. It hit a post.

Coulson and his opposite number had exchanged two penalty goals apiece before he notched the opening try himself and converted with his second top-notch kick of the afternoon.

Welsh flanker Andy Philips, in a rare 1st XV appearance over the past couple of seasons, added another, two minutes later, and Coulson again converted.

Gunderson's score gave Raiders their 22-point cushion and half-time came to interrupt their party.

Raiders are next at home to Shelford (March 8), the last survivors of the chasing pack, then at home to Sutton & Epsom (29), then Richmond (April 12) before closing away to Basingstoke (19).