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Richmond restored their local reputation with a hard fought victory over local neighbours Barnes, their thirty-two point winning score neatly mirroring Barnes’ score in the October Athletic Ground encounter. In a match higher in physical intensity and niggle than any enduring quality, Richmond fully merited their five points for victory after a controlled and disciplined second half performance. On a bitingly cold day, the game started at a frantic pace as both sides adjusted to the strong wind, which favoured Barnes in the first half. Richmond were first on the scoring sheet, taking advantage of a penalty kick into the 22. Henry Head made the first drive from the line out but it was Daryl Marfo, in his first start for the first fifteen, who did the damage. In a hugely impressive performance, Marfo simply ran straight and blasted his way through the middle of the Barnes defence to score from twenty metres. Matt Hart added a simple conversion and Richmond had just the start and the lead they wanted. If this season has taught Richmond followers anything, it is to take nothing for granted. So there was no great surprise when the next two scores went to Barnes. With the Barnes forwards gaining confidence and the Richmond error count climbing, the home side took full advantage. Barnes won a turnover just inside the Richmond half and scrum half Ross Blake scampered down the blind side with his back row in support. Richmond just managed to hold up the attack on the try line but Barnes retained their composure and, seconds later, drove over for a deserved try, converted by full back Warren Gower. Two minutes later, Barnes took the lead. With Richmond struggling to get their line out working efficiently, the home side claimed their own throw with ease and the forwards drove powerfully over from the resultant maul to set Barnes up for a 14-7 lead. However in the sixteenth minute, Barnes pressed the self destruct button with No 8 Gary Holmes yellow carded for throwing a punch. The absence of a Barnes’ forward allowed the Richmond pack to settle and establish more consistent territorial advantage. The points did not follow because opportunities were lost on the back of continuing errors. A kick to touch was over hit; a penalty was missed; and Richmond were penalised for running into their own man.
In the thirty-second minute, Richmond were in turn reduced to fourteen men as Tom George was summarily given a yellow card for killing the ball. Barnes kicked the resultant penalty and the score climbed to 17-7. The following ten minutes were crucial. Richmond not only held out but scored a well worked try, keeping possession well as they built pressure through several phases before Matt Hart squeezed in at the corner for a 17-12 half time score. With the wind in their favour and restored to fifteen men, Richmond played a much better second half. The Barnes back three struggled to cope with some well directed kicking and the hard working Richmond back row were fast up on their opponents, harrying attempts to escape the 22. Toby Henry and Sean Flynn provided efficient composure at half back and Flynn almost scored the next try, being a metre from the line before the ball was jolted out of his hands. With the penalty count at last under control, Richmond retained the ball well and played sensible rugby, building pressure relentlessly. After thirteen minutes, their efforts achieved reward. Nick Moore cut inside with a neat sidestep and found the alert Johnny Wehbe on his shoulder to skip through the remaining defence for a third try and a 17-19 lead. Wehbe almost intercepted minutes later and was not to be denied a second try. After twenty-one minutes, the Richmond forwards, now well in control, drove the Barnes pack back deep into their 22 and Wehbe was again well positioned to take an inside pass and wriggle his way to the line for the crucial fourth try, converted by Hart for a 26-17 lead. Needless to say, the match was far from over and the tall Barnes substitute James Hersey escaped up the touchline to score a good solo try against a dozing Richmond defence. Gower added the conversion and there was all to play for as the game headed towards injury time. Richmond were not to be denied and, on this occasion, used their heads to keep Barnes back in their 22. Twice Hart calmly added penalties, the second kick denying Barnes their second bonus point. So the game ended with the right result on the day, a victory each in the season and a game Barnes side needing an unlikely sequence of results to avoid relegation. Next week Richmond have a Saturday off, returning to action the following week (20th) against Bridgewater & Albion at the Athletic Ground (3pm kick off).
Tries: Marfo, Wehbe(2), Hart
Conversions: Hart(3) Penalties: Hart(2) Team: M.Hart, J.Wehbe, L.Cousins, N.Moore, T.Cook, S.Flynn (T.Gregory), T.Henry, A.Lyon (A.Friel), E.Rosa, D.Marfo, H.Head (C), T.Wesley, T.George, J.Downey 0 (A.Dinwiddie), P.Clarke. |
