Raiders do enough to enjoy rare away win

WORTHING secured only their second away win of the season by narrowly defeating London Irish Wild Geese at Hazelwood.

Speed merchant Kariym Irving was among six players to score for Worthing in an enthralling relegation battle.

However, an 80th-minute penalty for Irish, scored by fly-half Ben Kitching, did give the home side a vital bonus point.

“That’s what lower league rugby is all about,” Irish head coach Duncan Cormack said after the narrow defeat.

“Obviously we would rather win the game but they beat Taunton last week and we had to do the same thing.

“We are confident we can play but we just need to work harder on our team.”

Irish made a storming start when hooker Karl Gibson ran clear for captain Scott Moore to score after two minutes, converted by Ollie Turner.

But Worthing responded when Harry Forrest counter-attacked on 13 minutes for Ben Loosmore to cross the whitewash and they went ahead seven minutes later as Irving tore down the left wing.

But Irish hit back immediately as George Owen found space down the middle to go over.

Worthing’s Kiba Richards then tore the ball off Irish to score on 26 minutes, Matt McLean notching his first conversion of the match.

Worthing went through again on 36 minutes as substitute Jon Whittall took advantage and Forrest capitalised on Irish’s sloppy play to lead at half-time.

But Irish started the second half stronger as Tyler Bush and Tom Barker bundled over the line within six minutes.

Worthing replied on 49 minutes as captain Liam Perkins grabbed their fifth try, but Worthing hit difficulty as winger Finlay Coxon-Smith was sinbinned on the hour and Irish hooker Gibson scored from a line-out five minutes later.

The Geese were gaining momentum until Callum Haggett was sin-binned on 70 minutes, allowing McLean to kick a penalty.

Kitching converted a penalty in the last play of the match, enough to confirm a losing bonus point, which could yet prove vital in Irish’s relegation battle.

This was Worthing’s second win on the bounce, which delighted head coach Jody Levett.

“Considering our last away win was the first game of the season, we are really pleased,” Levett said.

“I think five or six weeks ago we would have collapsed. The mindset is better.

“Irish started the game really well and we knew they would come out again in the second half. It was about weathering that and trying to maintain our composure a bit.

“Remaining in the league was becoming further and further away. I think a win here means we stay but we have to keep pushing.”