Richmond opted for the toughest of fixtures for their second pre-season game of the season. A trip to the historic Cardiff Arms Park was a welcome experience for the young Richmond side. However, Cardiff, one of four Welsh regions battling for their future, opted to put out what looked like a first choice side, and they duly provided a daunting challenge.

Cardiff included no less than seven full internationals in their starting fifteen with two more on the bench. The balance of the side was made up of players on the Welsh pathway via the age groups, together with a couple of familiar Premiership players Dan Thomas and Rory Jennings. The Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt was looking after the national team last season.

By contrast, Richmond took the opportunity to test out some of their newcomers and to try new combinations. Neither the half backs nor the centres nor the back row had played together before. On a sunny day, a crowd of 3698 gave generous support to both sides.

The response was less generous on the field. The Richmond kick off was well struck into the home 22 but Cardiff instantly showed their mettle, with the backs using the generous width of the pitch to demonstrate some lovely wrap around passing, which sent Mason Grady thundering through a yawning gap. Within 28 seconds they had their first try and the game soon became a matter of damage limitation.

It was a further nine minutes before Cardiff scored their second try, this time a close range drive over by prop Ioan Emanuel. However, the Richmond pack offered decent opposition in the tight whilst scrum half Brodie Young, fresh from university rugby, did well under pressure from a highly experienced back row. It was the Welsh backs who always looked dangerous with their ability to create space and draw in extra tacklers.

Mason Grady, Harri Millard and Elijah Evans each took a lot of stopping whilst scrum half Ellis Bevan kept the back row busy. Richmond kept tackling and had their moments in attack, fully deserving their opening try in the thirteenth minute, which resulted from a well-executed forward drive after a five metre line out. This closed the gap to 12-5.

However, Cardiff now steadily pulled away, adding five more tries from the backs before half time. Ioan Lloyd converted seven of the eight tries before being replaced by fellow international Callum Sheedy.

Both sides rang the changes in the second half when the game became rather scrappier. The Richmond replacements competed well and made Cardiff work for their four second half tries. The back row earned kudos for chasing back to spoil a breakaway try by the Cardiff winger. In attack, Richmond at times built some pressure against a robust home defence and deserved their second try scored in the final minutes.

Paddy Case, who led by example, was again prominent when a charge down in the home 22 created pressure. The forwards maintained the momentum with a solid scrum before debutant Freddie Charles threw a lovely long pass to the wide outside for Sam Smith to finish in the corner.

It was as tough an afternoon as you would expect, but Richmond will have learned much from the experience. The home game against Cambridge in two weeks’ time should give a better idea of how prepared the team are for their return to the Championship.

Squad: Grieve, Addams, Case, Du Randt, Smith, Baggott, Young, Bevaqua, Goffey, Spring, Monson, Nugent, Frost, Cardew, Byrne,

Replacements: , Post, Murray,Litchfield, Charles, Ashton, Ormerod, Suggate, Hastings, Nel, Brosch, Langston, Dardis, Dennett, Wakeling, Wills

Tries: Goffey, Smith