Sparkling showing as Raiders thrash Lydney

Jack Maslen secured a hat-trick as Worthing kept their second clean sheet of the season in National 2 South, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.

Raiders opened the scoring after eight minutes with two tries coming within 60 seconds of each other. Alex Neilsen galloped home for the first and Maslen the second as Joe Govett slotted one conversion.

A penalty try and a second from Maslen and Neilsen respectively, and one Govett conversion gave Raiders a 29-0 lead at the break.

In the second half, Sam Hewick stretched over in the corner, Charlie McGowan powered through and Ludi Hopkinson crossed on the over lap, while Govett added two conversions.

With just two minutes left, Maslen went on a superb run, carving open the Lydney defence to complete his personal treble and take the score past the 50-point mark.

Raiders head coach Kieron Dawson said: “Last week results went our way to keep us in pole position and with Henley not playing today, it opens up a nice little gap as I’d rather have the points on the board at the moment.”

RAIDERS: Hopkinson, Maslen, K.Richards, O.Richards, Nielsen, Dudley, Govett, Pointing, Miles, Joe Burns, Stutchbury, McGowan, Heaver, Hewick, Redmayne. Subs: McIntyre (Miles 60), R.Smith, J.Smith (Burns 60), Leeming (Dudley 53), Whittall (Redmayne 56).