The team talk after the Wasps match
On a cold and wet day in the midlands, Richmond made the better start, capitalising on handling errors from Lichfield. Some due to the weather and some due to the pressure the visitors were placing on them.
Richmond showed some of the flare lacking last week against Wasps by shifting the ball through the backs gaining ground and culminating in a break from Number 8 Susie Brown who held her line before passing to fellow back row Tess Forsberg who scored. Alice Richardson converted to give Richmond a 7-0 lead after 8 minutes.
With the wet weather causing more handling errors, Richmond took advantage of the accuracy of Richardson's kicking to repeatedly peg Lichfield back, switching between cross-field kicks and long range ones into the oppositions 22. Susie Brown continued in the manner she finished last week by making life difficult for the home-side at the breakdown.
The visitors had some more good phases of play with Richardson and Annabel Sergeant, on her debut, making strong runs into Lichfield's half before handling let them down. Richmond will also be concerned by their penalty count, which was again high.
Threatening to score, Richmond made an uncharacteristic mistake when a long pass was intercepted by Emily Scarratt, gifting her a try under the posts which she converted. After 25 minutes the scores were tied 7-7 and Lichfield started to show some better form.
However, Richmond went on the attack again on the verge of half time with a long patient build up through the forwards before the backs were unleashed and Richardson made one of her trademark darting runs before Annabel Sergeant took over. She passed back to her fly half who scored and converted right on halftime, 7-14.
The second half was a war of attrition with the two sides looking equally dangerous and making similar errors. The weather had improved, but the conditions continued to make handling difficult and scoring opportunities went begging. Richmond had the upper hand in the kicking game, frequently allowing them to get themselves out of trouble with a precise kick into touch.
The only score of the half came from a penalty, kicked again by Richardson. The match ended 7-17.
