Richmond end the 2024 calendar year in top place but had to concede their proud unbeaten record to a determined Rosslyn Park side, who took the Christmas bragging rights. After the blood and thunder of the two most recent games against the second and third sides, this was probably a game too far. The three weeks break is ideally timed for all batteries to be recharged.

Richmond had beaten Park at the start of the season, courtesy of a last minute dropped goal, so both sides knew this local derby would be as keenly fought as ever. Richmond were missing two important members of the side with vice-captain Jake Monson and leading try scorer Chidera Obonna unavailable. Additionally, whilst the line-up was familiar, there were some existing injury niggles among the backs

There was a strengthening breeze as Park kicked off and they put Richmond under immediate pressure with some well judged kicking. Bragman’s line kicking off the side of his boot gained valuable yards, and Richmond had to defend a five metre scrum after just three minutes. The home pack seemed to get the better shove, but it was not enough. After an initial snipe by Ewan Fenley, flanker Harry Ledger hit the line at pace to crash over, Bragman adding the conversion.

Richmond finally got into their stride with their first entry into the Park 22 after eight minutes. Sam Dardis made a clean break, after which Alex Schwarz made further ground with a good dummy. The support could not get close enough, so, given a penalty, Richmond opted to take three points from in front.

Richmond now looked much more confident and were winning plenty of ball. Both sides struggled initially with the line out throwing in the strong wind. But it was at a scrum that Park conceded a penalty after fifteen minutes, a forward coming round offside in charging down a kick. Callum Grieve kicked well to get his pack within five metres and the forwards did the rest, driving convincingly from the line out. When the maul collapsed, referee Henry Pearson awarded a penalty try and yellow carded Archie Hosking.

Briefly in the lead, Richmond suffered a blow in the next two minutes. Grieve fielded well but misjudged the wind with a kick down the touchline, the ball going out on the full. More kicking ensued, after which Park full back Joe Luka Smith emerged with the ball, weaving his way through a static defence. Grieve finally stopped the breakout but was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on.

Park continued to play a kicking game whist Richmond opted to run the ball more. After 27 minutes, Hosking returned to the field and his side immediately took advantage of their extra man with a smart move up the right hand touchline for a try by the excellent Luca Smith and a 10-15 lead.

Richmond were using their big forwards effectively in punching holes in the Park defence, but they could not quite complete the attacks against a stubborn Rosslyn Park defence and the score was unchanged a half time.

For the second half, Richmond faced playing into a wind which was now more significant. Both sides had early chances, Park missing touch with a penalty aimed for the corner. When a Park player on the ground was penalised, Richmond kicked for the corner and mounted another powerful drive. They appeared certain to score but when Schwarz dived over the line, the officials judged him held up and Park escaped. It was a critical moment as Park broke the deadlock in the following two minutes.

From a line out just outside the 22, Park moved the ball down the line and James Cordy-Redden, a winger playing in the centre, hit a perfect angle to run straight and fast between two Richmond defenders and on to the posts for a very well worked try, converted by Bragman.

Richmond now had a lot to do, and the gap got bigger when Park got a penalty in front, which even the Park bench called ‘lucky’. Richmond needed to raise their game and they did, dominating most of the last half hour. With both Lewis Dennett and Sam Dardis forced off with knocks, normal backline fluency was lacking. But the team rallied and the likes of Sam Pim, Lucas Schmid and the outstanding George Nugent were all consistently prominent.

After 65 minutes, Richmond gave themselves a glimmer of hope with a memorable try. With Luc Jones prompting at fly half, the ball was moved out to the wide left with a pass which required Schmid to stop to take the pass which was behind him. Faced with two defenders covering, the flanker set off for the corner and bulldozed his way there, smashing his way unstoppably through the tackles. Grieve added an excellent conversion and anything was possible.

But it was too much to ask this time. Richmond fought hard to the end and had a five metre scrum with over ten minutes left. However, the linesman called it a Park penalty and the moment was lost. Park played down the clock and deserved their win.

Richmond return to action with a trip to Darlington on January 11. With the squad rested, the challenge is to replicate the excellent first half form in the remaining twelve games.

Tries: Penalty try, Schmid
Conversions: Grieve (2)
Penalty: Grieve

Team: Grieve, O’Meara, Langston, Dardis, McMillan, Dennett, Schwarz, Bevacqua, Goffey, Lichfield, Wakeling, Nugent, Benson, Schmid, Pim,

Replacements: Torpey, Spring, Saysell, Wills, Jones