Second-half surge seals it for Raiders

By NICK CROWE

Westcliff…………….. 12

Worthing………………52

A HAUL of 40 unanswered second-half points earned Worthing a win at Westcliff after a first half stalemate.

The sides were level at 12-12 at half-time and, although they were efficient and well-drilled, the Raiders were perhaps slightly flattered by the final scoreline.

Westcliff opened their account two minutes into the match, with speedy winger Tyler Ford outstripping the defence to score in the corner.

A surging, driving maul on the 20-minute mark saw Westcliff double their lead courtesy of veteran prop Ewan Binneman, with Greg Bannister converting.

Worthing came back into the match and two tries from Dan Sargent, one converted by Matt McLean, levelled the scores at the break.

Westcliff ‘s resolve remained undimmed, but a class opposition continued to exert pressure at all times during the second half.

The visitors were rewarded with six further tries, with Harrison Sims scoring a hat-trick, Jack Lake crossing twice and Frank Taggart once, with McLean adding a further five conversions.

Westcliff competed right to the end and, with a little better fortune, might have added to their tally, but it was not to be.