Guernsey Press

Raiders banish their opening-day hoodoo with win at Colchester

RAIDERS survived a nervy finish to break their opening day hoodoo in National Three London & South-East.

Published

A dominant pack performance, in which newcomer Dan Hill marked his debut with a try, plus some outstanding individual play by skipper for the day Owen Thomas saw Raiders clinch a well-deserved 29-23 success when it is the norm to lose away on day one.

Colchester struck first with an early penalty, but Raiders were soon ahead via a Tom Ceillam pushover try, converted by Thomas.

Hill then added a second score and with Sam Whitehead diving over in the corner on the verge of half-time, Raiders switched ends 17-9 ahead.

Raiders flew out of the blocks at the start of the second and within five minutes Cameron Craine was on the end of another successful catch-and-drive situation to extend the advantage.

Owen Thomas converted and the stand-off completed a brilliant return after a broken ankle with a fourth try for the visitors which stemmed from a fine Luke Sayer break.

But Colchester hit back and having pegged Raiders' lead back to six points it was a tense finish as the Mill Road Playing Fields crowd sensed a dramatic win.

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