After seven successive defeats stretching back to late October, Richmond finally recorded a deserved and convincing victory over Henley Hawks to complete a win double over their league rivals. In front of a crowd of just over 800, it was a very satisfying day for Richmond who earned five valuable points with their four try victory. Only in the last twenty minutes did a focussed and determined home side falter.

Among the changes in the Richmond side were the welcome reappearance on the bench of scrum half Kris Greene and the debut of the promising Darryl Marfo as substitute prop. But far and away the most influential change was the return of Alex Maclennan in the centre, where he provided a solidarity and composure which brought the best out of the other midfield backs.

Richmond started the game with real conviction and power, driving the Henley forwards back with irresistible force from the kick off. Within the first minute, Richmond earned a five metre line out and only a knock on prevented an early score. The home scrum soon established such an advantage in weight and power that the Hawks were marooned within their 22 and looked bound to concede early points. An early penalty slipped by and then the pack powered over the Henley line but were too upright to ground the ball. However, after twenty minutes, Richmond finally opened their score and it was Maclennan who set up the crucial opening with a trademark burst straight into the middle of the Henley defence. With players lined up outside, Toby Henry dummied with the quick ball and darted over for his first club try, converted by Matt Hart.

Two minutes later, the second try followed as Richmond visibly gained confidence. In this instance, the position was set up by Danny Parkinson’s good work at the tackle, setting up a penalty and line out from which hooker Ed Rosa was driven over, Matt Hart adding a difficult conversion for a welcome 14-0 lead.

From the kick off Richmond conceded an unlikely penalty for holding on. Throughout the match, referee John Owen was very quick to blow up for holding on but no-one could say he was not consistent. The penalty allowed Henley to venture into the Richmond half for the first time and they took full advantage to build further momentum, as the home side conceded successive penalties in defence. Tom George was inevitably given a yellow card after a team final warning and Henley quickly took advantage, scrum half James Gaunt ducking under a tackle to score his side’s first points.

Richmond nearly scored in the last five minutes of the half, Johnny Wehbe being tackled into touch in the corner. But Henley had chances too, surprisingly spurning a penalty kick at goal to try in vain for a second try. At half time the score was 14-5 and Richmond will have been disappointed that the superiority of their forwards had not generated a clearer lead.

Richmond started the second half as well as the first. A long clearance kick from the underused left boot of Maclennan set up a line out, won by flanker Trever Sadler. Once again, the forwards made the first inroads before the ball was spun wide, making efficient use of an overlap to squeeze Tim Cook in at the corner and open up the home side’s lead to a more comfortable 19-5. Whilst the rhythm of the game was regularly broken by the referee’s whistle, the power of Richmond’s forwards provided a platform against which Henley had no answer and lock Steve Green’s yellow card merely compounded difficulties. It was no surprise when another forward drive from the line out provided Ed Rosa with his second try of the game and gave Richmond a 26-5 lead and the cherished extra bonus point.

The remainder of the game was less satisfactory from a home perspective. Hart missed a penalty from in front of the posts and a natural nervousness at nailing down a vital victory resulted in a stuttering last quarter with far too much misdirected kicking. Offered a steady supply of possession for the first time, Henley started to run the ball at Richmond with increasing confidence and penetration. After nineteen minutes James Comben converted a straightforward penalty and after twenty-six minutes Dave Birtwistle showed a good turn of speed to score a second Henley try and set Richmond nerves jangling at 26-15. Fortunately dropped passes and the referee’s whistle prevented further scores and Richmond held on for a hard earned and very welcome win. No 8 John Downey was adjudged man of the match for his contribution to an impressive performance by the whole pack.

Next Saturday Richmond are back on the road with another important league match at Worthing against their keen rivals of recent years. Kick off is set for 2pm.   

Tries: Henry, Rosa (2), Cook 

Conversions: M.Hart (3)

Team: M.Hart, T.Cook (A.Saunders),  T.Gregory, A.Maclennan, J.Wehbe,  L.Cousins,
T.Henry (K. Green),  A.Lyon, E.Rosa (J.Clapson),  D.Parkinson (D.Marfo), H.Head (C), T.Wesley, T.Sadler, J.Downey, T.George.