Richmond completed their first block of eight fixtures with an excellent six try victory over a game Bishop’s Stortford side. The result leaves unbeaten Richmond in second place, cutting the gap to leaders Rams to just two points. Stortford, who took just one point, sit in tenth position but certainly look a better side than that, based on recent results against Rams, Rotherham Titans and now Richmond.

There were four changes in the Richmond squad. James Langston was selected for his first league start, whilst Ethan Benson made a welcome return, celebrating his 50th first team game. On the bench, Luc Jones and Alex Schwarz swapped roles, the latter taking over the captaincy, and Sam Smith was the substitute for the outside backs.

With the floodlights part countering the grey sky, Richmond kicked off and were immediately put in a good position by Lewis Dennett, who managed the game well all afternoon. However, Richmond were pinged at the set scrum despite a good shove, and only a good covering tackle by Schwarz prevented a Stortford break deep in the 22. The reprieve was brief as the home pack battered forward before the omnipresent Harrison Langworthy got the touchdown, converted by Dan Powell.

Richmond were soon back on the attack and opted to kick for the corner, after their opponents were penalised. The defence held and, when Richmond earned a second penalty in front, they chose to take the three points, Callum Grieve scoring his first of 13 points on the day. However, if Richmond felt reassurance from this score, they were soon back under pressure when their opponents added a second try. Richmond lost the ball at two successive line outs and then conceded a penalty for a high tackle. Stortford missed touch, and some kick tennis ensued. When their fly half Powell caught the ball close to the touchline outside the 22, he appeared to have few options. However, Powell set off diagonally, chipped the first line of defence and then retrieved the ball to score under the posts and add the conversion for a 14-3 wake up score.

Starting the second quarter, Richmond now took control of the game, scoring three converted tries before half time. For the first, they worked their way up the touchline before the forwards battered their way to the line, Christian Freeman getting the touchdown. Ten minutes later, there was a long passage of open play with Richmond largely dominant despite an interception by Stortford scrum half Charlie Briers. A well judged kick from Grieve put his side back on the attack, and this time Dennett opted for the neatest of kicks to the unmarked Chidera Obonna, who duly got the touch down.

The first of several light rain showers now made handling more difficult so a boot was intelligently used to trap a loose ball as Stortford tried to clear. In a flash the ball was then moved wide to Alex O’Meara who set off down the right hand touchline with thirty metres to go. The winger sped clear, making his opponents look as if they were standing still before running round to the posts for the try and a 14-24 half time score.

The first ten minutes of the second half were messy as the two sides fought for the next score in the damp conditions. Stortford wasted a five metre line out opportunity after which Richmond countered with some fluent rugby inevitably featuring Dennett, Grieve and Monson. When Stortford conceded a penalty deep in their own half Dennett kicked for the corner and Richmond got their line out routine working perfectly. Callum Torpey was the thrower, Benson the provider and the now prolific Jimmy Litchfield the scorer. Fifteen points clear, Richmond should have been able to relax but a game Stortford continued to apply pressure.

The Richmond defence was again generally excellent, despite conceding 31 points, and the shuddering tackling, best personified by Benson, was not for the faint hearted. However, Stortford persevered and cut the lead in the 59th minute, when left winger Alex Gilham was adjudged after consultation to have got the ball down before being swept into touch. Once again Richmond quickly responded, now extending the lead to 19-36 after Sam Dardis blasted his way through in the centre.

With fifteen minutes to go, Stortford were after at least one bonus point and deservedly got one five minutes later. Fly half Powell was the provider with a beautifully delayed pass which opened a defensive hole for Josh Stannard to run clear. With the game now end to end, there was still time for two more tries. First Luc Jones chipped into the 22 and the now dominant Richmond pack turned over possession before Jones almost inevitably sniped his way over.

Then, with three minutes left, a defiant Stortford worked their way back into the Richmond 22. The ball seemed to ping around loosely before Murray Davidson grasped it and touched down. Once again referee and linesman consulted. Was it a try? Yes, it was, and the whistle followed soon after. George Nugent was awarded the man of the match award. Now the players have a two week break and return to action with a Friday night home game on November 8th against Birmingham Moseley.

Tries: Freeman, Obonna, O’Meara, Litchfield, Dardis, Jones
Conversions: Grieve (5)
Penalty: Grieve
PoTM: George Nugent

Team: Grieve, O’Meara, Langston, Dardis, Obonna, Dennett, Schwarz (C), Freeman, Goffey, Litchfield, Murphy, Nugent, Monson, Wakeling, Pim.

Replacements: Torpey, Spring, Benson, Jones, S. Smith