Worthing Raiders 32 Bury St Edmunds 31: Full Sussex Rugby results

Six tries for the Raiders saw off their fourth placed opponents with a thrilling comeback win after going 24-0 down in the opening minutes to go on and win 32-31.

Tries from Caleb Ashworth and Ben Featherstone among others helped to secure a vital bonus point victory in a high scoring affair.

Tom Bowen tackling (Image: Warwick Baker)

Bury made a quick start on a heavy pitch as they stunned the hosts with two converted tries within the first five minutes.

A combination of errors a penalties from Raiders saw the visitors continue to add to their lead into the beginning of the half and were 24-0 with just 25 minutes played.

Worthing began to rally and held out a marauding Bury attack with fine defence to build momentum.

A series of meaningful attacks helped to keep Worthing in the game and shortly before half time the Raiders found themselves on the scoreboard.

A touch-finding penalty from Harrison Sims set up a driving maul from the lineout which Ashworth finished with a powerful run from the base of the set piece.

Seconds later, Sims’s boot once again put Worthing in striking distance and another catch and drive allowed hooker Will Gearing-Grief to dot down on the flank to leave the score 24-10 at the half.

Raiders continued to build the tempo at the restart and more kicks to touch set up the driving maul as a powerful try-scoring tool.

Ed Grinsted goes over as Worthing are awarded a penalty try (Image: Warwick Baker)

Bury bowed under the pressure and brought the maul down illegally with the referee awarding a penalty try.

Lock Ed Grinsted came close to levelling the scores with Worthing’s fourth unanswered try shortly after.

As Bury defended their own line, an opportunistic moment at the base of the ruck allowed Grinsted to pounce and score, with a missed conversion the only gap between the two sides.

Missed penalties from Bury kept Worthing within touching distance of the visitors and, after 40 minutes of dominance, Raiders finally took the lead for the first time in the match.

A strip tackle by Jack Forrest created a rapid counterattack which released winger Curtis Barnes to break tackles and dot down to the delight of Raiders fans.

Raiders returned to the driving maul after another penalty touch-finder from Sims placed the Worthing lineout on the edge of the opposing 22.

Worthing drove the ball all the way to the try-line with Ben Featherstone touching down to make the score 32-24.

A converted try by Bury ended the game but Worthing will celebrate a crucial comeback win by a single point.

Raiders continue to push themselves away from the relegation battle with a vital win against a side pushing for the top of the table.

Worthing will now enjoy a week off before a trip to old rivals Henley at the beginning of March. The next home game will be March 16 against Sevenoaks.

Full Rugby Results:

• Bognor 18 Trojans 39
• Chichester II 5 Winchester II 53
• Hove III 20 Barns Green 15
• Horsham Barbarians 10 Jersey Royals 26
• Haywards Heath II 45 Pulborough II 5