by Shane Branch

Last Saturday saw a solemn team warm up with little of the spark taken from the win the week before, a concern given the opposition was the red hot and full strength Southside outfit.

Delaying the start of the game with some well needed words amongst themselves, the Raiders took to the task from the first minutes of the game and built from there.

It was a solid performance from the start, although eventually Southside went in for the first points leaving the Raiders trailing 7 – 0. Composure was not lost and intensity and communication increased as the Raiders converted soon after to bring the scores level.

The forwards dominated the lineouts both their own and, for the most part, Southside’s, and competing well at scrum time winning a couple of vital tight heads at the back end of the half to repel a comeback from Southside.

The backs put a stop to the strength of Southside out wide with some very stiff defence and as the half wore on started stepping through a tiring defence scoring a further two tries, taking the score to 19 -7 with ten minutes remaining.

Southside scored a try against the run of play which caught the Raiders not playing to the whistle, believing a knock on had occurred and many players stopped only to see the opposition score in the corner.

The half time score was 19-12 with tries to Dallas, Sherston and Chica with Grae converting two of three.

From the kick off in the second half, the forwards played controlled and tactical rugby and the backs pressured Southside with a relentless and point perfect kicking game which eventually wore the Southside team down.

The Raiders ran in three more tries converting two with Southside getting a converted try very much against the run. The final score was 38 – 19, a solid win with the bonus point, and a game that may change the thinking of many who didn’t rate the Raiders to win over the past two weeks.

Life member and clubman Daryl Kirk (Kirky) said it was the best he felt about the Raiders on field performance since 2008, and many who played felt the same.

Tries: Simon Chic 2, Dallas Abel 2, Adam Calcraft 1, and Nick Sherston 1
Conversions: Grae Gilbert 4

The player’s player with the three points was Dallas Abel; two points went to the long striding Adam Calcraft who scored in the corner in the second half after a 25 metre run from a line out (this story has blown out to a 70 metre run with a chip and chase and a jink or two to score over the top off the winger). One point went to Grae Gilbert who has a game that is growing from week to week.

Port is at home this weekend to Wanderers. If the Raiders win this one it will be the best start to season in the history of the Club. Game time is 4pm, however there is a Reserve Grade and over 35s game as well, so come down to Raider Park for an afternoon of rugby.