RUGBY: Raiders frustrated by Ealing

Worthing lost the influential Matt McLean and Semisi Taulava to first-half injury and with the normally excellent kicker off the field, Raiders missed a number of penalties that could have extended their lead.

Despite this it was a fine first-half performance from Raiders who led 15-5 at the break, but Ealing being the tough side and hard-working side they are came back into it after the break running in three tries.

Green said: "We came away from the game feeling very frustrated that we had giving points away at times, but all credit to Ealing as they slightly out did us in the second half.

"We've been fairly lucky with injuries over the past few weeks, and people get used to playing with each other so it did have an effect losing two players, but we had extremely able replacements to come on and replace them."

Green also agreed that the score line flattered Ealing after their late tries, "I thought there were about five points between us," he said.

"We face Westcombe Park at home on Saturday, we lost narrowly up there earlier in the season so we will be looking to put that right.

"We have two games in a row now, so we will be looking to get back to winning ways."

Worthing started well and had plenty of the ball, while restricting the home team from having enough time to build any real pressure, or settle into any patterns of play.

After the good start, disaster struck for Raiders as McLean headed for a gap and was taken down by a number of Ealing players in a hard tackle in an attempt to break through the middle.

The break-through was finally made on 16 minutes as Jack Maslen broke through the middle and ran all the way to line to touch down. McLean duly converted to put Raiders into a deserved lead.

McLean, still feeling the effects of his earlier attack, was replaced by Greg Walker on 25 minutes.

Just three minutes minutes later, Ealing shifted the ball wide at pace to the right and their powerful winger scored their opening try, but the conversion kick was hooked wide.

Joe Launchbury restored Worthing's cushion three minutes before half-time as he touched down during an excellent forward drive, but the conversion was missed by Joe Govett.

Worthing were then dealt another blow as Taulava, who is often the driving force of Raiders, left the field injured.

Despite losing key men, Worthing were still asking questions of Ealing and forcing them into defence, where they ultimately conceded a penalty which Govett was unable to convert.

Govett, however, was on target on the stroke of half-time, as Ealing's Ben Ward was shown a yellow card. Govett sent his kick sailing over for a 15-5 lead at the break.

Worthing started where they left off after the interval, Ealing conceded a penalty for a spear tackle early on, but again it went unconverted.

After a couple of Ealing changes they begun to get back into the game and dominated the territory, for which they were rewarded with a penalty kick which they put duly converted.

All of a sudden, Worthing were locked in a defensive battle and despite holding well they were forced to keeping kicking clear.

Jamie Redmayne was yellow-carded for killing the ball at the ruck just before the hour mark, and an Ealing line-out soon got the try they had been threatening, as Markus Burcham went over and the conversion followed.

This seemed to spur Worthing back into gear, but Govett missed another penalty kick which would have put them back in front.

Ealing then ran in two tries in quick succession, one of which was converted, to give them a flattering score line for such a competitive game.

WORTHING: McLean, Govett, Dunckley, Meddings, Maslen, Dudley, Costigan, Bruce, Cleveland, Bennett, Launchbury, McGowan, Arthur, Redmayne, Taulava. Subs: Pointing, Smith, Emmett, Maidment, Walker.

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