Following their last game of 2009 away against league leaders Barking, Richmond started their 2010 campaign with another tough encounter, away against second placed Ealing. Richmond are yet to win at Ealing and were well beaten in the September game at the Athletic Ground. Realistic expectations were therefore modest and a 24-16 final scoreline was by no means a bad result. However, on a bitingly cold day, Richmond will be disappointed that they did not finish with a bonus point, having ended the match just one score short. 

There were several changes to the Richmond side, most notably among the backs, with Nick Wheatley introduced at fly half, a new centre combination of Mel Deane and Theo Malthouse, and Joe Brown moving to the wing. In the first quarter of the game, the reorganised backs were almost exclusively required to defend, as Ealing established permanent camp in the Richmond half. The visitors’ cause was not helped by an early injury to Jason Phipps, who was replaced by Ed Rosa after just six minutes. However Ealing made mistakes at critical moments, unsurprisingly in the freezing conditions, and Richmond weathered the storm, Wehbe catching and marking well as the experienced Ben Ward started to probe the Richmond defence with his clever kicking.

After quarter of an hour Richmond failed to clear their lines properly and Ealing counter attacked. Winning a line out deep in the opposition 22 Ealing drove forward just short of the line and then spun the ball out to the backs. Full back Peter Hodgkinson came into the line at pace and broke a tackle in the centre with some ease to score under the posts, Ward converting.

Richmond were conceding too much turnover ball and it was twenty minutes before they managed to secure territory in the Ealing half. It immediately produced rewards. Awarded a penalty wide out, Toby Henry scampered away and made good ground before passing out to winger Brown who ran straight and fast for the corner for a good try, alertly conceived. Buoyed by this score, Richmond continued to press and Matt Hart kicked a penalty ten minutes later to give his side a 7-8 lead after twenty-seven minutes.

After half an hour, Richmond suffered a second setback when Deane, making his National 3 debut, was forced to leave the field with a hand injury. With Richmond still mentally reorganising, Hodgkinson seized on another wayward Richmond clearance to run at a static defence and ghost past would be tacklers, drawing the final defender and giving wing Phil Chesters a very simple try scoring pass. It was a soft try but a piece of excellent individual skill. Nevertheless a half time score of 12-8 left the game wide open.

Richmond’s hopes were further boosted by an early second half score, Matt Hart converting a penalty for a line out offence. Richmond looked comfortable at both set scrum and line out but were finding it hard to penetrate an Ealing defence, which was very fast up on any Richmond attack. The one Richmond player who seemed able to break this stranglehold was No 8 John Downey who played with splendid vigour and energy in an efficient and hard working Richmond back row.

The game was effectively lost half way through the second half. Ealing calmly built pressure in the Richmond 22 and a beautifully judged grubber kick from Ward finally penetrated a gallant defence, the ball bouncing inch perfect for Bruynseels to score in the corner. And the fourth try was scored after thirty three minutes, when Ealing finally worked an overlap for another try wide out, crucially converted by Ward for a 24-11 lead.

Richmond now played their best rugby, Ealing having secured their full bonus points. For the first time, the Richmond forwards drove forward with conviction, Danny Parkinson and the hard working Tom George being prominent. Jonny Wehbe deservedly touched down in the corner after good team build up and interplay to take the score to 24-16. Seven or eight minutes remained and Richmond worked hard in an attempt to salvage a bonus point, which they probably deserved. But it was not their day and on the final whistle, a Matt Hart penalty from just inside the Richmond half, got the distance but slid past the posts.

Having made the top two teams work hard for victory at their home grounds, Richmond should take heart that there will be easier, more rewarding days if they can maintain this level of performance. Next Saturday, Richmond at last return to the Athletic Ground for a fixture against Bridgwater and Albion (kick off 3pm). 

Tries: Brown, Wehbe 

Penalties: M.Hart(2)

Team: M.Hart, J.Brown, M.Deane (A.Saunders), T.Malthouse (G.Hart), J.Wehbe,  T.Henry (J.Platt),  A.Lyon (D.Parkinson), J.Phipps (E.Rosa),  E.Atkinson, H.Head (C), J.Farmer, T.George, J.Downey , P.Clarke.