An eventful journey to Southend, arriving half an hour before kick off and with a bag of replacement suits instead of shirts. Our thanks to Southend for providing a set of blue shirts.

Richmond perhaps not surprisingly, started the game slowly, a poor kick off receipt leading to a line out near the Richmond 22, this was loosely tapped back, Southend secured the ball and a gained  a penalty which was converted. Richmond started to put some phases together and Neil Piggot went over for a try converted by Roberts. Back came Southend and scored a try through their centre which they converted to take a 10-7 lead. Some good handling by forwards and backs saw van Schalkwyk put clear on the left and Richmond regained the lead 12-10.  

After this early exchange of scores the next significant action was the referee producing a red card to a Richmond player who were therefore to play the last hour of the game with 14 men. However it was Richmond who responded more positively to the sending off playing some excellent rugby. Apart from one period of scramble defence when the Southend backs again threatened, Richmond bossed the rest of the half, winning quick ruck ball which was quickly distributed by Platty and tries followed from Jack Gibbons and Nick Wheatley to make the half time score 24-10.

Another good try by Roberts early into the second half seemed to have won the game but the bigger Southend pack were starting to make the extra man tell. Richmond possession dried up and Southend pressure led to 2 tries one again by their dangerous centre and the other from close quarters by their pack, crucially the second conversion was missed to make the score 31-22. Further injuries to Gibbons and Phipps caused further disruption. A Richmond break out gave them a rare attacking opportunity from a 5m scrum but the ball was turned over. Otherwise the last minutes of the game saw Southend camped in the Richmond 22 defending ever more desperately after another Richmond player was yellow carded.

Hanging on the a 9 point lead with 13 men, a great turnover was achieved near the Richmond line only for Nashie to kick the ball out right next to the try line after the referee had (allegedly) said normal time was up. The Southend line out led to two or three more penalties conceded at 5m scrums and eventually the referee awarded a penalty try which was converted but then the final whistle blew to leave a final score of 31-29 to Richmond.

Thanks to Captain Burr for playing out of position against a decent front row and for Chef for helping us out and stepping in when Burrie was injured. Thanks to Gavlar for enjoying a number of roles and positions throughout the game. In the end a hard fought win.

Team;

Brown C, West, Roberts, Piggot, Van Schalkwyk, Wheatley N, Platt, Burr (Capt) Phipps, Blackborow, Gabardi, Sadler, Hart, Gibbons J, Fiori.

Replacements; Nash, Wheatley A, Clarke, Gibbons S.

Scorers;

Tries;  Piggot, Van Schalkwyk, Gibbons J, Wheatley N and Roberts.

Con Roberts 3


Man of the Match  - Dave West