Blackheath 33 Richmond 14 (pre-season Friendly)

Seventeen weeks after their final league game of the season, Richmond started preparations for the new season in the Championship with a friendly against their old rivals of 161 years, Blackheath. Club had opened their season the previous week with a well contested game against Bedford. They looked sharper as a result. By contrast, this was Richmond’s first fixture of the season.

Both sides have recruited hard. Richmond had six debutants in their squad of 27 and Blackheath possibly more. Additionally, Blackheath have a new head coach, Tom Stradwick, who has put together a changed coaching team.

Richmond focussed their efforts on giving their whole squad a run out and there were continuous changes There is heavy competition for places and new players had plenty to prove. Blackheath showed the advantage of their extra game, looking more cohesive, and fully deserved the overall victory.

A comprehensive win by the Vikings set up expectations and Richmond started well in the senior game with a try after just one minute. A neat move from a scrum set Chidera Obonna and Paddy Case running straight and hard, before giving the scoring pass to Alex Schwarz. It all looked too easy, but it wasn’t.

Three penalties conceded in five minutes gave Club a perfect position five metres out and they levelled the scores. The penalties kept raining and by half time, Richmond had conceded ten. Denied continuity of possession, Richmond threatened with more strong running from Obonna and Case, but they could not finish. They tackled hard and looked physically imposing but could not cut the small errors. Blackheath stayed steady and burrowed over from another five metre line out to leave the half time score 14-7.

Richmond reduced the penalties in the second half to another six and there were plenty of good individual contributions. However, they had to settle for a Sam Pim try under the posts, which levelled the scores before an increasingly confident Blackheath side pulled away with three more tries for a final score of 33-14.

On to Cardiff Arms Park next for the second pre-season game in two weeks’ time.

Squad: Grieve, Obonna, Case, Savaiinaea, Addams, Baggott, Schwarz, Bevaqua, Goffey, Litchfield, Monson, Nugent, Frost, Byrne, Pim, Spring, Post, Murray, Marsh, Ashton, Cardew, Kitson, Hastings, S.Smith, T.Smith, Du Randt, Brosch

Tries: Schwarz, Pim
Conversions: Grieve (2)