Raiders Aim to Maintain 100% Home Record
Tom Sullivan puts in a tackle on an MK player
READING Raiders Rugby League Club is aiming to maintain its 100% unbeaten home record in its last league game this season on Saturday (5).
If the Raiders escape defeat against West Warriors A in their final London & South East Championship match, they will have gone two years unbeaten at Berkshire County Sports Club in Sonning.
Swindon St George A, Sussex Merlins and Devon Sharks left Berkshire empty-handed in Reading’s first three home games and the Raiders face a tough test when third-placed Wests visit.
The Warriors won the return league fixture in West London 28-8 in humid conditions when the Raiders travelled with just 15 players and lost their scrum-half early in the first-half.
Mike Beckly receives a pass from hooker Matt McLellan
Reading Chairman, Andrew Belt, said: “For a long part of the match away at Wests, we were competitive, so with a full squad in tow this week, we feel we can give them a better game.
“We’re aware they’re a very good team so we’ll respect that but I’m sure our boys will give them a push them hard. Even if we lose, however, we can be very proud of what has been a great first season in a league structure.”
The Raiders were dealt a blow last week when their scheduled league match away at Sussex Merlins was cancelled but arranged a friendly at MK Wolves at short notice, where they lost 54-34.
Full back Callum Man takes the ball into the opposition
MK blew Reading away in the first half, building up a 38-12 lead at half-time before the Raiders regrouped and put in an impressive second 40 minutes which went 22-16 in their favour.
Kick-off at Berkshire County Sports Club on Saturday is 2pm and the club will be holding its end of season awards do at main sponsor, Grosvenor Casinos’ club in Rose Kiln Lane later that day.
Scrum-half John Boucher restarts for the Raiders.
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