Ace Davies boots Raiders to victory

By BEN MORRIS

Worthing………………25

Barnes………………….24

A last-gasp penalty from Alex Davies saw Worthing pip Barnes right at the death, ensuring the Raiders finished in the top four.

With Dorking losing at Blackheath, the loss had little impact on Barnes’ final placing, the Barn Elms club finishing only behind James Shanahan’s side.

There was little to separate the sides on the final day of the campaign, both teams deserving credit for putting on a full-blooded affair despite glances towards a well-earned summer break.

Jordan Souter broke the line for Barnes’ opener and Cameron Roberts showed his quality minutes later for the visitors’ second.

Fraser Bruce wriggled over from close quarters just before the interval to give Worthing a vital lift and their single-point lead was one they held on to – just. Tom Derrick and Alex McLean-Nelson traded tries as the game got ever tighter, much of the action being clogged up in set-piece intricacy and in the middle of the pitch.

Simon Keller’s penalty six minutes from time – completing an excellent afternoon for Barnes’ kicker – looked as if it had come at a decisive moment, but Davies stepped up with 60 seconds remaining to deliver the telling blow.