The visitors exploded out of the blocks quickly, setting up camp deep inside Richmond’s 22 before launching their powerful driving game. Although they were held up, referee Hamish Smales felt Luc Jones had defended from an offside position and so awarded a penalty try and the scrum-half was sent to the bin.

Nottingham’s 100 miles an hour start continued moments later as Oli Evans’ clearance kick was partially charged down allowing Nottingham to attack again near the Richmond line. After employing their well drilled pick-and-go game for almost an age, they spun it wide and Williams crashed over, to go two tries up inside the first ten minutes.

Richmond then did well to see out the remainder of the Jones sin-bin without conceding and once the scrum-half returned, he put in an sublime kick that rolled into touch inside Nottingham’s five meter line. Richmond’s lineout pressure then forced the visitors to carry the ball back over the line and they then put their brought their strong scrummaging into play. After playing with repeated penalty advantage Richmond kept it tight and eventually managed to force their way over through Litchfield.

Just as Richmond looked to have a foothold in the match, a scuffle on the floor saw Jack Allcock perhaps unfairly sent to the bin while Nottingham received no punishment.

With the man advantage again, Nottingham continued to do what they were doing best by kicking to the corner and setting up another maul. This happened twice before the break, both with the same result as scores from replacement George Cox and Aniseko Sio secured the bonus point before and made it 10-26 at half-time.

In the second half, Nottingham started in the same way they’d finished the first. Although Richmond were able to repel the visitor’s rolling maul, they did so illegally and with penalty advantage Nottingham went in search of their fifth try. They drew in many of the Richmond defenders and then when there was a clear overlap, Nottingham spun it wide and Williams crossed for his second.

The next 20 minutes was widely played between the 22s and it was not until the hosts gave Nottingham a taste of their own driving maul medicine that the scoreboard begun to tick again. Richmond came up just short from their initial drive but centre Evans’s powerful leg drive brought them close. With an overlap, Jack Stapley’s deliberate knock-down was the only thing preventing a certain Max Trimble score and so the winger was sent to the bin and another penalty try was awarded.

A Nottingham penalty crucially extended their lead to three scores and despite Richmond’s best efforts and a late Nottingham sin-bin after Jack Ramshaw illegally pulled down the maul, the hosts were unable to score again as their visitors leapfrogged them in the table.

The Richmond Player of the Match, sponsored by Jen Gadsby Peet was awarded to centre Oli Evans.

FINAL SCORE: RICHMOND 17 - NOTTINGHAM 34

Richmond 17
Tries: Jimmy Litchfield (22nd min), Penalty Try (64th min)
Conversions: Rob Kirby (22nd min)
Penalties: Rob Kirby (34th min)

Nottingham 34

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

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