Jersey did get on the score-sheet through Brendan Cope and George Edgson but Richmond were deserved winners and will take this form into the big encounter against Saracens next Sunday.

The game started quickly and two of the Richmond debutants had early chances to score but sadly neither came to fruition. Fly-half Ted Landray’s early penalty sailed just wide and centre Chris Wolfe-Elder appeared to be running in for his first try for the club but was called back for a forward pass.

Richmond continued to pile on the pressure and had good chances to get the opener, but Jersey’s scrum bailed them out of trouble and it remained scoreless at the 20 minute mark.

The first points did come five minutes later, as Cope scored and converted an intercept try that was very much against the run of play.

Richmond answered quickly however, winning a penalty from the restart and this time Landray made no mistake as he scored his first points in the Championship.

15 minutes before half-time, Jersey started to find their form but the impressive Richmond defence held firm and eventually forced the penalty which made it a one point game going into the break, 7-6 to Jersey Reds.

Jersey and Cope appeared to start the second half the faster as he got an early penalty but Richmond again answered back immediately.

Powerful number 8 Myles Scott manage to rip the ball in the tackle and the ball found its way to Jones. The scrum-half then pinned his ears back and scored in the corner against his former club. Landray converted from the touchline as Richmond took the lead for the first time, 10-13.

With the momentum Richmond struck again minutes later, as repeated Jersey infringements allowed them to go from their own 22 to the opposition’s. After a mammoth number of phases on the Jersey try-line, Landray spotted an overlap and Kelly scored in the corner. Landray added the extras 10-20.

Richmond kept applying the pressure, with the likes of Scott and Freddie Hosking carrying well and being threats around the breakdown. This soon paid off as Landray added another penalty, taking the lead to 13-20 with minutes to play.

Jersey didn’t go down without a fight. With ten minutes to go they started to up the tempo as they looked to get back into the match.

Richmond did well to hold them out, but two minutes from full-time, replacement Edgson crashed over on the back of a rolling maul. Cope, who had played so well throughout the game, saw his touchline conversion go just wide meaning the nervous finish was avoided as Richmond won it 15-23.

The Live Stream Player of the Match, voted by fans on Twitter, was awarded to Richmond number 8 Myles Scott.

FINAL SCORE: JERSEY REDS 15 - RICHMOND 23

Jersey Reds 15
Tries: Brendan Cope (23 mins), George Edgson (78 mins)
Conversions: Brendan Cope (23 mins & 52 mins)

Richmond 23
Tries: Luc Jones (44 mins), Dan Kelly (52 mins)
Conversions: Ted Landray 2 (44 mins & 52 mins)
Penalties: Ted Landray 3 (26 mins, 37 mins & 62 mins)

The full in-depth match report from Tim Forrester to follow…

Image courtesy of Dante K Photography: www.dantekphotography.com