No. 1 spot remains the target for Raiders

With second-placed Raiders coming away from their trip to CS Stags 1863 with five points following their 52-10 victory, they closed the gap on the leaders to a single point after Rochford Hundred came through a tight battle with the other promotion contenders Wimbledon 12-3.

‘Ultimately, we’ve crept up another point on them so there’s one point in it with seven games to go,’ said Guernsey coach Jordan Reynolds.

‘Although the gap to Wimbledon [in third] is eight points, they have a game in hand so we’re imagining they are three points behind us.

‘We’re still aiming for that No. 1 spot. However, that’s not in our control. All we can control is trying to keep picking up bonus points and if we continue to do that and Rochford happen to miss out on one somewhere down the line, our points for and against is better than theirs.’

Reynolds said he was ‘pleased with certain parts’ of his side’s latest victory in which they scored eight tries – three for Anthony Armstrong, two for Doug Horrocks and one each for Matt Armstrong, Tom Teasdale and Lucas Barker.

‘The first half was very difficult because it was really windy and it was blowing straight into our corner, so only a small “nudge” [kick] got them deep in our half, so to be 19-10 up at half-time was good,’ Reynolds said.

‘Our discipline was still a bit shaky, but the defence was better than it has been of late.

‘It was a physical game, they had some big players among a lot of new faces we have not seen before so there were some big shots being put in, but our forwards were getting gain-line success and giving us front-foot ball, which was a big aim for us – setting the platform to launch off.

‘I don’t think we can get too carried away, we’ve still got to realise there’s a lot to work on, but I’m pleased to be going into a break on the back of a positive performance and having a week off now gives everyone the chance to recharge the batteries.’

• More in Tuesday's Guernsey Press.