Four tries from Worthing was not enough to topple a Barnes side as Raiders were forced to settle for a valuable bonus point in their first game of the new year, writes Colin Coulson.
Early scores from Frank Taggart and Will Rigelsford kept Raiders in touching distance of their opponents but a trio of tries by the hosts punished the team late in the first half.
Despite a revival in the second half, Worthing were unable to overcome the third place Barnes side, coming away with one point from their trip to the capital.
With captain Jack Forrest joining a growing injury list, Worthing fielded a much-changed side with six new faces from their narrow loss to Dorking.
Barnes scored their first try early on after penalties against the Raiders but from the restart the visitors gained possession and used it well to develop an expansive attack.
Fly half Louis Ellis made touch close to the try line from a penalty and the forwards drove the ball over the line from the lineout for Frank Taggart to touch down.
More penalties lead to another score for Barnes but with twenty-five minutes played Raiders were in possession and again, building an attack using the width of the pitch.
With a ruck in enemy territory scrum half Will Rigelsford spotted the chance to make a break from the base, outpacing the cover from 40m out to dive under the posts to even the scores at 14-14.
A charged down clearance kick led to another converted try for the hosts and Barnes’ stout defence continued to hold out amid Worthing pressure.
Barnes took advantage of mistakes and scored two more converted tries before half time, extending their lead to 35-14 at the break.
Barnes extended their lead shortly after the break forcing Worthing to make a round of changes in the hope of earning a bonus point.
Raiders put themselves in good positions on the field when penalties against Barnes ultimately gave them a lineout five metres from the try line. The catch and drive that followed was thwarted by good defence from the home side.
Despite the added pressure from Worthing a scrum deep in their own territory lead to Barnes converting their seventh try of the day to secure the win.
Despite the result being secured the final period of the match saw Worthing continuing their expansive style of play constantly probing the Barnes defensive line in search of a way through.
Raiders eventually scored their third try when centre Harry Forrest found the outside edge of the defence wide on the left and sprinted in from thirty metres. With the conversion missed the gap closed to 49-19 but more importantly at this stage gave Raiders a real chance of getting a bonus point.
After a late Barnes sin bin gave the visitors an advantage, Raiders fullback Tom Bowen spotted a gap in the defensive lines and was through it in a flash and away to the try line to touch down. Ellis drop kicked the conversion to finalise the score at 49-26.
Raiders now sit equal on points with Wimbledon at 12th in the league as they continue to scrap it out at the bottom of the National League Two East table.
Raiders will return to Roundstone Lane this weekend for an exciting clash against 10th placed Westcombe Park.
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