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The so-far unbeaten Raiders Premier team was expected to dominate the game it played at home against bottom of the table Papatoetoe Panthers on May 29.
Even so, the half-time score of 52-0 was impressive.
The Raiders’ win was a team effort. However, Korey Craig played a key role, scoring a total of six tries as supporters chanted his name from the sidelines.
Winger Caleb Nui scored his second hat trick of the season and Adrian Shelford and Taylor Raj got two tries apiece. The final score was 88-6.
The team’s senior manager, Paul Davis says the team is humming along nicely. It is co-captained by Josh Hale and Liam Ackland. Paul says the two men are very different, but both have a strong family pedigree in league. Ackland is the son of former Warriors assistant coach and Warriors U20 coach, John Ackland, and Hale’s sister Georgia is captain of the NZ Warriors.
Last weekend, on June 12, Raiders faced Pakuranga Jaguars at home in Stanmore Bay. It was expected to be a close game – a win would qualify Raiders to play off for the Fox Championship grade.
Note: Hibiscus Matters went to print before the June 12 game was played.
UPDATE
It was a night of celebrations for Hibiscus Coast Raiders after the Premier team saw off the Pakuranga Jaguars, 38-16.
The game was played on Saturday, June 12 at the Raiders home ground in Stanmore Bay.
The win sees Raiders qualify to play off for the Fox Championship grade. They need to make the top four of the playoffs to move up next year.
