Dawson’s delight as Raiders make it nine in a row

WORTHING Raiders Rugby Club head coach Kieron Dawson was delighted with his side after they increased their winning start to the National 2 South season to nine games on Saturday with a 80-31 win over Lydney.

The win keeps Raiders in second place, behind leaders Richmond, and Dawson said: “It was a fantastic performance. We knew it could be a potential banana skin but we were aware of it and confronted it.

“As the defence coach, I’m not happy with shipping 31 points but it was that kind of game.”

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A large crowd watched the game, after Raiders had appeared on television on BBC South Today the previous day, and Dawson said: “We want to see as many people as possible up here. I guarantee they’ll enjoy it.

“It was nice to see a big crowd and Sussex could easily carry a major rugby team.

“Anyone who comes up here will see good entertainment.”

On the difference from last year, when Raiders finished eighth, to this season, Dawson said: “It’s pretty much the same squad but we don’t play a pattern, which makes a difference.

“It gives the players freedom and they’re a year older, with a year’s more maturity, and there’s a couple of games that we’ve won this season that we would have lost last year.”

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Worthing travel to third-placed Hartpury College on Saturday, before hosting leaders Richmond the following week and Dawson said: “We’re just taking it game by game. Hartpury are going very well, play a great brand of rugby, have a few Welsh internationals and a British Lion in Darren Morris, so it’s going to be a great test for us.”

For a full match report see this week’s Worthing Herald, Shoreham Herald or Littlehampton Gazette.

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