Oliver excited by Raiders fixtures
London Raiders defenceman David Oliver is looking forward to the new season (pic: John Scott) - Credit: Archant
Defenceman looking forward to London derby
London Raiders defenceman David Oliver with a young supporter (pic: John Scott) - Credit: 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.
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“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.
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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
