Sussex rugby: Worthing Raiders beaten by Havant in home opener

Braces from Jake Rutherford and Jack Forrest were not enough for Raiders to secure their first win of the season, losing the high-scoring affair 34-40.

Worthing did secure their first two points of the season, however, as a late score clinched two losing bonus points to open the account for the new season.

Selection for Raiders was hampered by injuries and unavailable players for the first match in the South Coast rivalry since 2008, Colin Coulson writes.

After Havant lost a player to the sin bin in the opening minutes Raiders were quickly on the attack but could not convert after Havant stole a threatening lineout metres from the whitewash.

Ollie Crow (Image: Colin Coulson)

Both sides put themselves in scoring positions on the field but were unable to put a score on the board in the first fifteen minutes.

But Worthing found themselves on the back foot after going behind by two scores and losing captain Jack Forrest to the sin bin.

Raiders opened their account in the twenty seventh minute with a penalty from the boot of Louis Ellis and the home side started to use their bench after thirty-five minutes, Ray Jardine replacing Will Gearing-Grief and shortly after Dan Macadams was on for Harrison Dakin.

Ellis added another score from the boot but Havant increased their lead by scoring and converting on the stroke of half time to hold the game at 17-6 to the visitors.

Changes for Raiders refreshed the side and scrum half Rutherford opened the scoring in the second half, collecting his own kick to sprint 40m to touch down.

But as substitute Dan Macadams was sent to the sin bin, Havant put themselves on the front foot again with a rolling maul from the ensuing lineout to bundle over and score.

Raiders built promising attacks, only to be stopped by good defence and unforced errors.

Havant added their fifth try midway through the second half but Worthing hit back minutes later after Jack Forrest burst through the defensive line after a series of neat passes for his first score.

The visitors hit back with a converted try, opening the gap between the teams had opened up to fourteen points at 20-34, and a few moments later they added penalty to move out to 20-37.

Although the home side continued to make errors at important moments, they were still producing rugby that was penetrating the visitors’ defensive lines.

Jack Forrest scored his second try from one of these plays and Charlie Spencer converted to close the gap to 27-37 with about five minutes to play.

Balasz Magda’s yellow carded added pressure to Worthing’s comeback and Havant took the chance to kick the penalty and extend their lead to 27-40.

But the spirit of this young, largely inexperienced side shone through as they put together an excellent handling move that ended with Jake Rutherford scoring his second try of the match and secured two losing bonus points.