After one of the most exciting finishes ever seen at the Athletic Ground, Richmond turned around a 24-3 deficit in the last 25 minutes to score four tries and emerge winners with the final action of the game. Nottingham had looked in cruise control for the first 50 minutes, but Richmond seemed to flick a switch, when depleted by two yellow cards, and the momentum of the game was transformed.

Nottingham started full of belief, helped by the confidence from an impressive win last week against Ampthill. Fly-half Sam Hollingsworth had been player of the match with 16 points and he was quickly into his stride in this game. After nine minutes, he used lineout ball to cut back in, find space, chip ahead and gather for a fine solo try, which he converted from wide out.

Richmond had an early chance to respond after the first of James Kane’s hefty kicks into the corner. However, the support play looked slow, and Nottingham were able to clear. Richmond seemed to have the initial shove in the scrum but were unable to take any advantage. After 20 minutes, Kane made a forceful break, which ended with a penalty for his team. Ronnie McLean ran hard and straight from the lineout ball and got close. However, Richmond had to settle for a penalty, converted by Kane.

Despite the boost of the score, Richmond continued to look off colour and made continuous frustrating errors. Nottingham were more comfortable with the ball, half-backs Hollingsworth and Michael Stronge looking full of invention. Just after the half hour, Nottingham scored their second try, started by the pacey winger David Williams, continued by Stronge, and completed by centre Elliott Creed. Hollingsworth added a simple conversion, making the half-time score 3-14.

Richmond needed to raise their game or face a repeat of their 17-34 defeat at the end of last season. Things did not start well. After 43 minutes, Richmond were pinged for breaking off a scrum early and Nottingham opted for three more points from Hollingsworth. The challenge got significantly tougher in the next five minutes, with two yellow cards and a third try conceded.

Hamish Graham got the first yellow, stretching to fingertip forward a wide pass to his opposite number, whilst Ntinga Mpiko was unfortunate to get a yellow, when he instinctively tackled the Nottingham scrum-half after a tap penalty. Sandwiched between the cards, Nottingham got their third try, after their forwards battered into the 22, providing Stronge with the chance to throw out a good long pass over the Richmond defence to set Williams clear to the corner. Hollingsworth added another excellent conversion.

With two Richmond men in the bin, maybe Nottingham relaxed a bit. What is certain is that Richmond raised their game, dug deep and somehow took more and more control of the game. Nottingham started to concede a sequence of penalties, and the outstanding Kane extracted full advantage, time and again bouncing the ball into the right corner with his trusty left boot.

The first five metre lineout was wasted with a grubber which went long. But Richmond were quickly back on the attack, backs and forwards now handling with conviction. Once again, Kane provided the set up from a penalty and this time the forwards stayed patient, the imposing Mark Bright deservedly the scorer.

Still 8-24 down after 56 minutes, Richmond were now heartened by the return of Graham and then Mpiko. After 60 minutes, Richmond added a second try, Bright again the scorer after another short range lineout. The crowd were really behind Richmond now, sensing more to come. Suddenly, Richmond were in full control of possession and were creating chances, if sometimes a little frantically. Lennox Anyanwu, on loan from Harlequins, came on for his debut and showed distinct promise with deft hands and the power to break tackles. He was involved in the build up to the third try, linking well with Kane to provide the initial break, completed by the magnificent Bright for his hat-trick following a well-judged pass off his feet by James Hadfield. Kane’s conversion took the score to 20-24.

A bonus point looked secure. Was there time to get the win? The unfortunate Jared Cardew had come off injured, shortly after coming on as a substitute and, when Toby Saysell had to join him, Richmond looked horribly unbalanced in the back-row with substitutes scrum-half Charlie Gowling and lock Byron Hodge joining Bright. James Lennon played his heart out at scrum-half, having to play all 82 minutes as a result.

The minutes ticked by. Nottingham had chances to clear but their line kicking was now short. Richmond returned to the attack, a final pass again just failing to reach its man. With two minutes left, Will Carrick Smith, on his Richmond league debut, won another lineout to secure possession on half way, and, after advantage, referee Alex Thomas awarded another penalty. Despite the pressure, Kane unerringly found touch about eight metres out with another bouncing kick. The lineout ball was secured, the forwards gathered, the backs joined in and when the signal was given for a try, the roof nearly came off the stand. Carrick Smith was the scorer and Kane added the conversion to complete a wonderful team win, full of heart and spirit.

Head Coach Rob Powell said: "It was an outstanding effort from where we were. The belief, fight and character shown were tremendous. Nevertheless, we don’t want to get into that situation again and we look forward to another positive performance against Coventry next week."

Elsewhere, our Richmond Vikings maintained their unbeaten start to the 2021/22 season with an impressive 42-7 win over local rivals Rosslyn Park 2nd XV, while our Saxons, Normans and Jutes contested an internal friendly fixture.

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FINAL SCORE: RICHMOND 27 - NOTTINGHAM 24

Richmond 27
Tries: Mark Bright (55th, 61st, 67th min), Will Carrick Smith (79th min)
Conversions: James Kane (67th, 79th min)
Penalties: James Kane (22nd min)

Image courtesy of Dante K Photography: www.dantekphotography.com