Raiders win award

Guernsey toppled leaders Wimbledon before two bonus-point victories saw them top of the London & South-East Premier table at Christmas as they attempt to bounce straight back into National Two.

Now, though, they are just two days away from hosting their nearest rivals, and the only side to have beaten them this season, Rochford Hundred in a massive top-of-the-table clash on Saturday at Footes Lane (2pm kick off).

Only the champions will be automatically promoted at the end of the campaign, with the runners-up facing a play-off against their South West counterparts.

That is a scenario Raiders head coach Jordan Reynolds wants to avoid having experienced it two seasons ago when his side overcame Bournemouth in a tense promotion play-off.

‘I don’t think we’re interested in second place because we’ve been there before,’ he said yesterday.

‘There’s a real drive in the group that we want that No. 1 spot.

‘[Two years ago] we were 10 points clear then lost a couple of games late on to finish one point behind and that was pretty sad for everybody.

‘So we know where we want to be and this game goes a long way to deciding if we do it, but we know Rochford will come flying out of the blocks and they are gearing up for one of their biggest games, too.’