Rotherham Titans 40 Richmond 38

Playing with fourteen men for three quarters of the game, Richmond came tantalisingly close to pulling off what would have been a remarkable victory. Having trailed 40-26, Richmond simply never gave up and at the end had a penalty chance for victory and then should have had another penalty chance after the final line out.

Stalwart prop Jimmy Litchfield was captain for the day in recognition of his proud achievement of playing his 100th club game. After the high excitement of the previous week, the team he led out had four changes to the previous week’s starting fifteen and four more changes on the bench.

On a hot afternoon, Rotherham had their biggest crowd of the season, and they were loud in their support. Their team have chased Richmond all season and are now second, ten points behind. Their home record of one loss all season has been a major factor.

Despite the long journey, Richmond were emphatically quicker off the blocks, scoring two tries in the opening eight minutes. Rotherham conceded a penalty for a trip and Callum Grieve kicked to the 22. The forwards secured the line out ball and progressed to the posts before Jake Monson strolled through a big defensive hole in almost embarrassed fashion to score under the posts.

After eight minutes, Richmond added their second try. A well judged box kick by Matt Marsh bounced high on the hard ground and Josh Addams followed up well to disrupt possession. The forwards then worked their way forward before skipper Litchfield showed the way, forcing his way over. Grieve converted both tries for a 14-0 lead.

Rotherham now got stuck in and Rob Povey and the impressive Ronnie Du Randt worked some space to put Richmond under pressure. The defence held well but conceded a penalty for offside. The Titans kicked for the corner and their big pack forced their way over in the corner, their No 8 Ellis Thomas the scorer. Lloyd Hayes, the top points scorer in the league, added the conversion.

With the crowd now doubling their volume, Richmond’s kick off ball just rolled long, giving the Titans the chance to keep the momentum. From the scrum, JB Bruzulier hoisted a box kick, which was perfectly judged for the follow up. Richmond did not secure the ball and, when it bounced back, flanker Travis Gordon needed no extra invitation to grab the loose ball and claim the try, taking the score to 12-14.

A couple of minutes later, the challenge got bigger. On the far side of the pitch, referee Henry Pearson, who was well up with the play, signalled a penalty against Richmond and immediately brandished a yellow card to Lima Savaiinaea. However, the touch judge now appeared to intervene, and, after further delay and discussion, the yellow card was upgraded to red.

Richmond now came under concerted pressure and showed real grit in knocking back waves of attack. Both sides had chances five metres out, but defences held till the final minute before half time. Richmond were then awarded a penalty for a high tackle and opted to kick for the corner. Ethan Benson secured possession and the forwards battered their way towards the line. Three times Titans held out at the cost of a penalty before Sam Pim finally powered over. Grieve’s conversion left the half time score 12-21.

Given the amount of defensive work they had done, Richmond needed to maintain the lead as long as possible. It wasn’t to be. From the kick off, full back Jack Townend counter attacked out to the right before the ball was moved back across to Du Randt who cut back between two defenders for the score, leaving Richmond just two ahead.

The lead disappeared completely two minutes later. Richmond aggressively followed up the kick off ball and nearly overran it, allowing Titans to break out on the counter. Lloyd Hayes made the initial break, running thirty metres before finding the imposing John Okafor in support for the last twenty metres. Hayes added the conversion for a 26-21 score. The crowd purred with pleasure.

But Richmond were not finished yet. A well timed slip pass to Jake Monson set the lock running into space and he found James Langston in support. The move was stopped just short of the line

Richmond maintained the pressure through a sequence of a tap and go and three short range line outs. After four penalties, Rotherham’s Zak Poole was carded. Richmond quickly spread the ball wide, and Paddy Case’s long, looping pass was well taken by Alex O’Meara who touched down half way out for a 26-26 score line.

Next it was the Titans’ turn. After a spell in the 22, they set Rob Povey off on a weaving run to the line and Hayes added the conversion. After 64 minutes, Rotherham extended their lead, Townend too easily bursting straight through a sequence of tired tackles.

Richmond had every right to be tired, but they still had plenty of spirit and belief. Within three minutes, another sequence of penalties set the pack up by the posts and Will Goffey was the man to bulldoze over.

Buoyed by the try, Richmond opened up deep in their own 22 and Case on the wing had the pace to get round the defence and pass inside. A neat kick ahead then drew a penalty and Sam Pim was the man to force his way over for a second try and a 40-38 scoreline.

The last ten minutes were ebb and flow as Richmond tried everything to retrieve the lead. It was not to be. After a scrum penalty faded across the posts, Richmond had one last chance when given a penalty just inside their own half. Grieve found a good touch but the normally reliable line out routine went totally wrong, with no jumper getting off the ground. The forwards looked despairingly at the linesman, clearly convinced that a penalty was merited. But the final whistle intervened, and the Titans had won the tightest of victories.

Champions Richmond have one game left at home to Blackheath on the 26th and it should be a memorable way to complete the season.

Team: O’Meara, Smith, Case, Savaiinaea, Addams, Grieve, Marsh, Freeman, Goffey, Litchfield, Monson, Nugent, Benson, Hastings, Pim
Subs: Murray, Vaughan, Wakeling, Jones, Langston

Tries: Monson, Litchfield, Pim (2), O'Meara, Goffey
Conversions: Grieve (4)