Defenceman looking forward to London derby

Romford Recorder: London Raiders defenceman David Oliver with a young supporter (pic: John Scott)London Raiders defenceman David Oliver with a young supporter (pic: John Scott) (Image: Archant)

London Raiders defenceman David Oliver is growing increasingly excited about the new National League season, following the release of the 2015/16 fixtures this week.

Raiders welcome Streatham to Lee Valley for their first game of the campaign, on Saturday September 12, and also face meetings with fierce rivals Chelmsford and Invicta in the early weeks.

Oliver said: “I can’t wait now until the start of the season. There’s not a better way to start than with a London derby!

“Streatham have put together a good team on paper, but we have a great record against them.

“They have a lot of new faces, but can they gel in time?”

Raiders won three out of four meetings with the Redskins last season, which came as a bunch in late January and February, as they climbed off the bottom of the table to reach the play-offs.

Coach Alan Blyth has made changes to his roster during the summer, welcoming Frankie Harvey back from a spell at Invicta, and bringing in new faces Michal Oravec, Davey Jackson, Seb Downing, Bailey Chittock and Sam Roberts.

Other spots still remain to be filled, but Oliver is confident and added: “We will be training hard in the weeks leading up to the first weekend of games.

“September is going to be a busy month for us, playing Cardiff twice and Oxford away, then playing Chelmsford and Invicta in the cup.

“We will be trying to finish as high up the table as possible, but we are also hunting for silverware and the cup is a great way to get our hands on some.

“We have a great team this season and I’m pretty sure people won’t be looking forward to playing us.”

London Raiders 2015/16

Sept 12: STREATHAM

Sept 13: Oxford

Sept 19: CARDIFF

Sept 20: Chelmsford (C)

Sept 26: Cardiff

Sept 27: Invicta (C)

Oct 4: M Keynes

Oct 10: SOLENT

Oct 11: Chelmsford

Oct 17: INVICTA (C)

Oct 18: Streatham

Oct 24: BRACKNELL

Oct 25: M Keynes

Oct 31: M KEYNES

Nov 1: Bracknell

Nov 8: Invicta

Nov 14: CARDIFF

Nov 15: Streatham

Nov 21: WIGHT

Nov 22: Solent

Nov 28: OXFORD

Dec 5: Wight

Dec 12: INVICTA

Dec 19: STREATHAM

Dec 20: Invicta

Dec 27: BRACKNELL

Jan 2: Wight

Jan 9: CHELMSFORD (C)

Jan 10: Oxford

Jan 16: INVICTA

Jan 17: Solent

Jan 23: M KEYNES

Jan 30: CHELMSFORD

Feb 7: Chelmsford

Feb 13: SOLENT

Feb 20: WIGHT

Feb 28: Bracknell

March 5: OXFORD

March 19: CHELMSFORD

March 26: Cardiff

April 2-3, 9-10, 16-17: play-offs