Following the postponement of our previous week`s trip to Cinderford due to snow in the West Country, the Vikings returned to action with a home friendly against Rosslyn Park. Thanks to Park for picking up the fixture at short notice after Ealing declined to fulfil the proposed League game.

After the wet week of weather the far pitch was in good condition. Richmond welcomed back a number of players from injury and made a good start, some strong running from the back row setting up position from which Roberts kicked a penalty. Park then scored three tries without reply, one an interception but the third had excellent hands and support play for a length of the pitch try and it looked like being a long afternoon. Richmond however came back, forwards produced some go forward ball and with Nash`s quick service Richmond showed what they could do when keeping the ball in hand, two tries from West and one from Piggot brought the half time scores level.

The second half saw the Richmond pack gain an edge and some good kicking gave us territory. Tries followed from Wheatley and Casey. Affie injured himself in trying to score another so again uncontested scrums came into play. Park came back into the game scoring a try to reduce the margin and pressed for another. Most of the game was now in and around the Richmond 22 but the Richmond defence held out for a final score according to the referee of 32-26.

Team;

Brown C, West, Saunders, Gregory, Casey, Roberts, Nash, Affie, Burr (Capt) Blackborrow, Gabardi, Barton, Wheatley A, Gibbons J, Fiori.

Replacements; Platt, Piggot, Gibbons S.

Scorers;

Tries; West 2, Piggot, Wheatley and Casey

Con Roberts 3

Pen Roberts 2

Man of the Match  - Chris Brown