Sawtell started cohesively; and early probes by Jake Glover assisted by Luke France looked promising but the Raiders defensive line led by Jackson Lindsay and Mick McCormick had no real concerns. Indeed it was Urunga, after a period of Scorpion pressure, who returned fired via Cale Simmonds. It was an innocuous move begun by Jai Waddick after he floated past a defender that was perhaps blinded by the magnificence of the red beard. Waddick’s pass connected with Cale Simmonds whose first time strike demanded a magnificent save from Benji Sonter, the Scorpions goal keeper. Great save, but Sonter was soon to be in the back of his own net.

On 29 minutes Cale Hopper flicked a seemingly casual ball to Fabrice Wamara. Pushing the ball forward, Wamara out paced an injured Scorpion to slot in the Raiders first for the day.

The warning bells for the Scorpions were not heeded as the Raiders produced one more goal before the break. This time from an excellent corner from Waddick. Simmonds was in the right place to control the ball on his huge chest and stroke in number two to end the half.

With the fans barely back in their seats, pie in hand and perhaps a frostie as the mercury had just punched through the 29 degree mark, the Scorpions were awarded a penalty after Lochie Indian-Manning blocked a would be Scorpion attacker. It was controversial, the message was delivered by the linesman and not seen by referee Dave Thorn, and it had the crowd buzzing. It could have been a turning point in the match for the Scorpions.

However, Tarrant in a moment of clear clairvoyance, leapt to his right and parried out the shot. Absolutely spectacular and it later earned Tarrant the Raiders nomination of man of the match.

If you can’t score from the spot how can you score? Sadly for the Scorpions, it didn’t get any better than that.

Waddick, who had earlier provide the corner for Simmonds to net, provided the coup de grace for the afternoon as he attacked, skinning a defender. He bounced a pass off Ben Dooley (who had worked tirelessly all afternoon) and spun past another defender to hammer home the Raiders third. Great stuff from Waddick as it sealed a first round win.

It was a nice result for 2014 coach of the year Paul Pomroy.

In the earlier match the Raiders reserve grade ran out 8-2 winners with a hat-trick to Darcy McGlashin, a brace to Andrew Trist and goals to many more. The Raiders’ women who recently claimed the Nambucca Challenge Trophy had a bye and will no doubt look forward to testing their mettle at the appropriate time. For the men, their next assignment will be Boambee after Easter.

Hope to see you there. Go Raiders.