Richmond continued their fine start to the season with a convincing seven try victory over Leicester Lions. Just a year ago, Richmond lost this fixture by a single point in the final minute, so the scale of the victory this year showed how well Richmond have progressed. Rams remain top of the table, the only other undefeated team, but Richmond are a clear second, now five points ahead of third placed Rotherham Titans. The Lions are thirteenth, one point below Esher.

Despite persistent rain and two midweek games, the pitch provided firm footing on a sunny afternoon. Richmond had made four changes to their starting fifteen, Jimmy Litchfield making a welcome return at tight head after a long layoff and Sam Dardis replacing the injured Paddy Case in the centre. Luc Jones, captain for the day, and lock Mattias Woollard rotated with Alex Schwarz and George Nugent. There was one late change when Guy Rogers pulled out with an injury to be replaced by Frank McMillan, with James Langston promoted to the bench for his 1st XV debut.

The Lions had three players with over 150 club appearances, mixed with two academy players from Leicester Tigers and one from Coventry. On the bench, they also included young Northampton Saints No 8, Reuben Logan, son of Kenny and Gabby.

Richmond dominated the early play and took the lead after just three minutes. A knock on provided Richmond with a scrum on the opposition ten metre line. In the follow up play, Callum Torpey, who had a fine game, worked his way clear, making a break across the posts before finding Jake Monson in a good support position to complete the try, converted by Callum Grieve.

Five minutes later, after Richmond conceded a penalty for a high tackle, the Lions ran the ball from the line out, working their impressive full back Joe Brock into space. When they threw a pass down the line, Alex O’Meara instinctively stuck out his hand and was yellow carded. Despite being a man short, Richmond eventually cleared the danger and returned to attack. When the Lions forwards were pinged for loitering offside, Lewis Dennett kicked to the opposition ten metre line. In the follow up play the powerful Lucas Schmid bulldozed his way forward to within five metres of the line. Richmond then turned over scrum possession and moved the ball at pace down the line to send McMillan clear to the corner.

The Lions were still contesting well, helped by a marked seven to two first half penalty count. So, it needed something special to break the deadlock and it was provided by skipper Jones who angled a perfect overhead kick to vacant space on the blindside. The ball rolled perfectly, and Woollard did well to be first man to the ball and the touchdown.

The visitors now made two substitutions, one of them involving the introduction of Logan who immediately demonstrated some classy touches. He was only just short when the Lions pack got within five metres, but Richmond cleared the danger well out of the 22. However, with England Under 20 skipper Lewis Chessum providing reliable line out ball, his side were soon back on the attack, even if getting the benefit of the doubt over a forward pass. Winger Jack Edwards benefited, being given the touchdown in the left hand corner after lengthy debate between referee and linesman. The half time score was 17-7 and Richmond still had work to do.

The Richmond defence was a feature of the game throughout and the force of the tackling routinely smashed opposition players backwards and ensured Richmond maintained the momentum. Afterwards, no. 8 Sam Pim was made man of the match for his outstanding defensive work. After 50 minutes, Richmond finally got a couple of penalties in their favour and set up fifteen metres out. Securing possession, the pack drove forward at pace before Litchfield claimed the touchdown for the fourth try, converted by Grieve.

There was some frustration when the Lions escaped sanction for a knocked down pass which spoiled one attack, but Richmond stuck to the task and added a fifth try after 63 minutes. Langston made a good run in midfield before Chidera Obonna got the ball with several defenders to beat. However, the winger made short work of them, two neat steps clearing some space before he accelerated to the line for a fine solo try, again converted by Grieve.

Leicester Lions, who had fought hard, now looked well beaten, and Schwarz claimed the next try in the 67th minute. Once again, the pack did the initial hard work, mauling their way to the line. Referee and linesman again conferred and decided no try could be awarded. Back to the penalty and this time there could be no debate as Schwarz spotted space and ran a neat angle to the line. Grieve added his fourth conversion.

Was there time for one more? There was, but first the Lions got a deserved second try, spreading the ball wide after a five metre line out. Edwards was again the scorer, doing well to catch a long high pass and dob it down in the corner. With the clock on 80 minutes, Richmond mounted one more attack, Monson on the charge before sending O’Meara on a gallop to the corner. The full back had a lot to do but squeezed a kick ahead down the line before following up with great skill to get the final touchdown. Kicker Grieve, who had worked hard all game, tried in vain to attempt the conversion but cramp did not allow him. Dennett raced across to take over, but his hurried kick flashed across the posts.

Head of Rugby & Men's 1st XV Head Coach, Rob Powell commented: ‘I thought it was a really good performance. I think Leicester have proved how good they can be in attack and have scored a lot of points in the last couple of games. For us to shut them out the way we did, I thought was really pleasing. To score 43 points is good and exciting, but I thought we left some out there. In many ways that’s positive because it means there is a bit more to come as well and it’s a good position to be in. We need to back it up next week. We’ve got a real tough game to finish off this block of eight and we need to make sure we go about our business well’.

On to Bishop’s Stortford next week. They have run Rams close and beaten Rotherham in the last two weeks so Richmond expect a battle.

Tries: Monson, McMillan, Woollard, Litchfield, Obonna, Schwarz, O’Meara
Conversions: Grieve (4)
PoTM: Sam Pim

Team: O’Meara, McMillan, Dardis, Grieve, Obonna, Dennett, Jones (C), Bevacqua, Torpey, Litchfield, Monson, Woollard, Schmid, Wakeling, Pim.

Replacements: Goffey, Freeman, Nugent, Schwarz, Langston