Raiders rocked back by Hertford defeat

The defeat means Worthing, provided they do not lose again, nevertheless require either Bracknell or Chinnor to do so in South West 1. These two are the odds-on candidates to meet Worthing in that scenario and the team with the most league points will host the play-off. Worthing are unbeaten all season at home.

This is Raiders' third defeat, having lost to Barnes and Richmond, also away from home. And they were mightily relieved to hear Richmond had beaten rivals Shelford 28-11 to maintain Worthing's four-point gap above the London 1 team in third place.

Raiders lost by a goal and two penalties to a try and three penalties.

Key to Raiders' prosperity in the early stages was the problems Australian No 8, Peter Altona, was causing Hertford. But he had to come off with a knee injury after only 14 minutes. His replacement was Scott Mackenzie, a player of lyet limited Worthing 1st XV experience.

Worthing paired Duncan Taylor and Chris Yates in the centre for the first time after a considerable interval. The combination was a sign last season that the team expected things tight in midfield. At fly-half, director of rugby Ian Davies put faith in Ed Philip, to play only his second match for the 1st XV, following his debut against old Albanians a week earlier. Philip has been mentored in the 2nd XV by Yates.

Taylor scored the try with individual power and briliance - it proved Worthing's only one - which Ben Coulson converted magnificently to give Raiders a 7-3 lead, following a Hertford penalty goal. A second Hertford penalty was replied to by Coulson, just before the interval (10-6 to Worthing), while Hertford had a player in the sinbin.

When Raiders skipper Jody Levett went there himself in the second half, a team dismissal after he killed the ball, and Hertford capitalised with their only try, to take the lead for a second time, at 11-10 with the game 54 minutes old.

Their failure to convert that try meant that Coulson recaptured the lead, for Raiders' second time, on the hour, with another marvellous penalty goal kick from an almost impossible angle.

But then a Hertford penalty on 77 minutes, ironically kicked by ex-Worthing fly-half try-out, Dan Howells, made it 14-13 and although they had an extra five minutes of added time, Worthing could not procure any further points.

WORTHING: Stewart-McDonald; Harris, Taylor, Yates, Coulson; Philip, Murphy; Storer, Alcott, Halsey, C.McGowan, B.McGowan, Levett, Smith, Altona. Bench: Mackenzie, Farnes, Bennett (all used).

Next week is a break in the London 1 fixture list.

Prop Ryan Storer, hooker Simon Alcott and lock Charlie McGowan from criticism by director of rugby, Ian Davies, who described Ben Coulson's conversion and one of his two penalties as "miracle" kicks.

See Worthing Herald for more, and the story why they have no match this Saturday.