Richmond deservedly claimed four points to nil from this game against old adversaries Hartpury University. Their second successive league victory and their seventh of the season lifts the team to eighth position in a tightly contested table. With two games to go, one more than a number of rivals, Richmond can finish anywhere between fifth and ninth.

After a showery morning, the afternoon was dry with a strong wind blowing across the pitch. Hartpury probably had the best of the conditions in the first half but took a while to gauge the wind, kicking out on the full on several occasions. Both sides were keen to run the ball at every opportunity but there were plenty of mistakes, resulting in constant switches of possession.

An over-hit kick by Hartpury provided Richmond with a good scrum position after seven minutes, and the pack drove forward powerfully to earn a scrum penalty. Ten metres out, the forwards set up for a short-range lineout but lost possession. However, Hartpury’s clearance was fielded by Jake Caddy who moved the ball inside to the lively Will Kaye. When the ball reached Lennox Anyanwu, the big centre had plenty to do but he made quick ground to beat his marker on the outside. With Owain James outside him, he looked bound to pass but, surveying his options, cut inside and completed a fine 50 metre solo try, converted by James Kane.

Boosted by the score, Richmond continued to dominate, especially in the scrums. With errors abounding, there were nine set scrums in the first 20 minutes and the home front-row of Jonny Harris, Jack Musk and Jimmy Litchfield once again had the edge. When referee Jack Makepeace played advantage after another scrum penalty, Hartpury conceded a second penalty, and this time Kane took the points with a simple kick.

It was a Richmond error which next swung the momentum. Kane just missed touch with a penalty and Hartpury countered well, using the wind perfectly to drill a kick deep into the Richmond 22 for a 50/22. The visitors stayed patient, probing the defence until James Williams made a crucial short break. The ball was then swung left and winger Matt McNab ran straight and hard into the corner. Williams, who is reportedly attracting interest from Bristol, added an excellent conversion.

Hartpury now looked much more confident and, when they went close just before the half hour, Mark Bright was yellow carded for some desperate defence. Hartpury now spent some time in the home 22, Harry Short making one break to set up what looked a certain try if one of the locks had not dropped the ball. It didn’t matter in the end as the visitors got their try moments later. The forwards barraged the defence after a lineout and, when Richmond held them a metre out, scrum-half JB Bruzulier spotted a gap and dived over. The half time score was 10-12.

Owain James had one early chance but his kick ahead ended in Hartpury hands as the game continued end to end. The breakthrough came after 49 minutes. The Richmond defence pressed well to force a penalty against Hartpury for holding on. From a 45 metre lineout, the pack set up well and rumbled forward, before that man Mark Bright got the touchdown, his 15th of the season.

Given the speed of the game and the constant turnovers, both sides rang the changes early and it was substitute scrum-half Jack Stafford who popped player of the match Jared Cardew into clear space in the Hartpury half. The flanker looked around for support and found Kane following up at pace. The centre was caught but had done enough to maintain possession. Richmond stayed patient, with the forwards picking and driving. Bright was very close to his 16th try but, in the end, it was the hard-working Will Carrick Smith, who claimed the try to extend the lead to eight points.

Right at the end, Hartpury had a spell of possession deep in Richmond’s 22, but they never really looked like breaching the defence and Richmond cleared to half way. There was just time in the last couple of minutes for flanker Oscar Waite to make his debut for Richmond, having joined this year and worked his way through the levels. Next stop Coventry, at the Athletic Ground on Saturday 26th March. Support will be very welcome. Click here to purchase match tickets.

Richmond Head Coach Rob Powell commented: “It’s good to get a win. I don’t think we played particularly well. We have played some recent games in poor conditions and it took a while to adjust to firmer ground. But any win at this level is huge, and the boys dug in really well.”

FINAL SCORE: RICHMOND 20 - HARTPURY UNIVERSITY 12

Tries: Lennox Anyanwu (9th min), Mark Bright (49th min), Will Carrick Smith (66th min)

Conversions: James Kane (9th min)

Penalties: James Kane (21st min)