After a fiercely fought and bruising encounter between the top two sides, Old Albanians made home advantage count to edge a victory. Whilst Richmond will be disappointed to have suffered the narrowest of defeats, the score line meant that the lead at the top of the table was cut by only three points from nine to six. In a league, where results continually surprise, Hartpury’s second successive defeat was another boost to Richmond’s promotion aspirations.

Both sides featured near full strength line ups, Richmond’s only changes being on the bench. Albanians have been in a rich vein of form and had won their previous nine games. With the Albanians ground situated at the top of St Albans, the exposed conditions were a major factor, a gusting cold wind blowing strongly across the pitch and marginally in Richmond’s first half favour.

Richmond had the best of the first quarter, the forwards laying down a marker from the kick off. The first scrum evidenced Richmond’s clear superiority in the tight and the first line out was also claimed from an Albanian throw in. However the home side had their moments too, when James Shanahan kicked to the corner, the attack spoiled only by the first of many inevitable knock-ons. Richmond countered well when a neat chip by Tom Gregory allowed James Greenwood to show his skill, beating his opposite number in the tightest of spaces.

However, the first score went against the flow of play and was claimed by the Albanians. When his side turned over possession, Shanahan kicked neatly into space down the left touchline and Terry Adams was the first to the ball, beating the Richmond cover to gain the touch down out wide for a 5-0 lead.

The next period of play featured two Richmond tries as the visitors raised their game to demonstrate contrasting skills. Will Browne played a key role in both, firstly preventing a long kick off from going straight into touch. Albanians were then penalised for not rolling away and Richmond kicked to the corner. Managing the conditions well, the forwards demonstrated a near perfect catch and drive from the line out, Kyle Sinckler getting the touch down. Tom Platt, who kicked superbly in the tricky wind, added two valuable points to take his side into a narrow lead.

Two minutes later, Richmond had extended their lead. Brooks used the conditions well to kick deep and the Albanians were exposed when they were caught trying to run the ball out of defence. Winning turnover ball, Barney Pascall made the first inroad through the home defence before Browne powered into the line from the blind side wing and blasted his way through two tackles with hand offs to score a very good second try, again converted by Platt. At this stage Richmond looked in firm control at 5-14 and the next scrum reinforced this view as the home pack were shunted backwards at a canter. Frustratingly, Richmond never gained full advantage from this scrum superiority.

With Albanians looking slightly rattled, the visitors had further chances but handling errors and inevitable line out overthrows restricted continuity. Just after the half hour, the momentum of the game changed significantly. Conceding another penalty, Richmond were suddenly on the back foot. The home side raised their tempo with a quick tap and run, the visitors being ‘docked’ a further ten metres and warned for tackling too early. Suddenly the Albanians were in a prime position in the corner and their catch and drive, whilst not quite as slick as Richmond’s, was every bit as successful. When the drive was held on the line, Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier, the OAs’ outstanding scrum half, was able to nip round the unattended blind side for the try to take the score to 10-14.

Needing a good start to the second half to restore momentum, Richmond were undone within two minutes. The Albanians secured line out ball, albeit from a crooked throw, and the forwards made some initial progress before feeding out good ball to the backs. Full back Richard Gregg was in the line and a neat inside ball put the dangerous Adams into space, the centre running in from thirty metres for the crucial score of the game, Gregg’s conversion giving his side a 17-14 lead.

A determined Richmond side were far from beaten and, fifteen minutes later, a promising line out drive was illegally pulled down by the OAs.  Although the penalty was wide out and the wind was gusting wildly, Platt never looked like missing and his low kick took the score to 17-17. Whilst Richmond were winning slightly more possession, the forwards struggled to get much beyond the gain line as the home defensive line shut down space. When the ball was moved out to the backs, play often ended up backwards and, with long passes holding up in the wind, the visitors were unable to put either winger into any attacking space. OAs’ familiarity with these conditions was probably crucial.

The conclusive penalty was scored in the 63rd minute, Gregg making no mistake in front of the posts as Richmond were penalised for holding on as they came out of defence. Twice, Richmond saved near certain tries with staunch defence and OAs could find no further way through. Right at the end, some wonderful play by the visitors nearly turned the day. Retaining possession through endless phases, Richmond at last broke the OA’s defensive grip and gave a glimmer of chance to Pascall twenty metres out. But the home defence was equal to the task and the cover just forced the battling centre into touch.   

Richmond Director of Rugby Steve Hill commented; ‘It was a frustrating game to lose given the amount of positive rugby we played. Our scrum was magnificent and the way in which the whole defended close to our line was tremendous. The difference was most definitely in the number of penalties we conceded compared to OAs and this is an area in which we must continue to improve. Clifton beating Hartpury means our game next week against Clifton will be just as tough a test as today. How we respond will give a good indication of just how much steel this squad contains’

Tries: Sinckler, Browne

Conversions: Platt (2)

Penalties: Platt

Team: T.Platt, W.Browne, T.Gregory, B.Pascall, J.Greenwood, J.Brooks, P.Nash(T.Drewe), K.Sinckler, D.Burr (J.Phipps), T.Walford, W.Warden, C.Davies, T.George, H.Edwards,  J.Thompson.

Richmond saves you money
With the New Year sales in full swing, please do remember that if you shop online then if you sign up to the easyfundraising website you can earn cash for Richmond as well as finding many special offers and discounts.
To discover more click here