RUGBY: Coach Green hails Worthing season

WORTHING Raiders Rugby Club finished their season with a 55-18 defeat at Clifton on Saturday, but head coach Will Green was not going to let a "small blip" take anything away from their season.

The Raiders had already secured a sixth-place finish in National 2 South '“ their highest-ever league finish '“ and Green said: "It was disappointing but not too surprising as we had a few players out.

"I think it was a weekend too many for us really, as we had reached a pinnacle and after that it's very difficult to keep going.

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"The lads stuck in it to the end and the players performed well.

"I've very much enjoyed the season. It has been fantastic and the boys have worked hard all year.

"The last couple of results don't reflect the season.

"It has been a slight blip, but what it does highlight is we need to increase in depth. When we have our top 15 out we can match the best, so there will be some recruitment over the summer.

"We're already planning on next season and moving forwards. There is no point being in it if you can't improve and we'll be looking to kick on."

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With seven minutes gone on Saturday, Clifton worked the ball to the right, before kicking forwards where Greg Setherton scored near the posts to give them the lead.

Matt McLean soon put Raiders back in the game as he sent over a penalty, which was awarded for an offside in a ruck.

But Clifton soon increased their points advantage. Sam Kent broke from a quickly-taken penalty on 14 minutes and ran through to touch down.

Worthing's Joe Govett then pulled the score back to 12-6 with a drop goal after a well-worked line out and great play by the Raiders front line.

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But, as soon as Worthing looked like they may get back into it, Clifton found another gear and upped the play. John Levis added another try after he collected the ball from a scrum and ran clean through on 24 minutes.

Matt Britton then put down another try eight minutes later. He collected the ball from a Raiders scrum under the posts and went over.

Worthing pulled another try back on the stroke of half-time to make the score 26-13 at the interval. Semi Taulava produced a trade-mark drive forwards, before Greg Sullivan eventually went through by the posts.

The second half started brightly for Worthing and at 49 minutes Jack Maslen ran round his marker to touch down.

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That was the way things stayed until 62 minutes when Clifton gained possession from a scrum and they produced another try.

This started a Worthing collapse as Clifton put down four tries in 13 minutes to put an impressive and comfortable gloss on their final score.

Ben Glynn scored a converted try on 66 minutes, David Viol then put down on 70 minutes, yet another break from a scrum saw Britton claim his second three minutes later, before Viol wrapped things up straight from the restart.

WORTHING: McLean, Maslen, Sullivan, Ryle, Walker, Govett, Rogers, Bennett, Hewick, Bruce, Smith, May, Redmayne, Arthur, Taulava. Subs: Fisher, Jack.

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Worthing's 2nd XV lost the Sussex Trophy final on Tuesday evening when they went down 20-3 to Hove's 1st side at Crawley.

Raiders had overcome Eastbourne 44-5 in the semi-finals.

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Email the Herald: steve.bailey@worthingherald.co.uk

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