WEST WALES RAIDERS 8 NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS 18

By Andrew Thorne at Parc Stebonheath

West Wales Raiders squandered a half-time lead to Nottingham Outlaws and failed to reach the play-offs by a single competition point as a result.

Instead, Gloucestershire All Golds’ second side qualified in fourth place after beating Torfaen Tigers 54-4.

In a ferocious battle in the wet conditions, Raiders were 8-6 up at the break but lost out 18-8.

It was five minutes Into the game when the Raiders drew first blood. Daf Phillips fought his way to smuggle a try under the post, Taylor Phillips missed the conversation.

With some tough defending, both teams battled hard to cross the whitewash both at close range and out wide but both defended hard cancelling out each other.

After 20 minutes Nottingham scored after Raiders’ poor discipline gave them three repeat sets. Prop Will Ephraim went under the sticks with Adam Cunliff converting.

Raiders managed to fight back and Phillips got second, going over at short range. Phillips again missed the sticks.

Nottingham speedster Adrian Chimeria was first over in the second half with Cunliff converting to give them the lead.

And in the last five minutes, the same combination wrapped the game up to leave Raiders in fifth place in the final league table.