Richmond 34 London Scots 11

Richmond wrapped up their season in the most convincing of styles with a decisive five try victory over the auld enemy, the London Scots. Richmond therefore secured their position in the Champ next season, whilst the Scots have a final ‘winner takes all’ play off contest with Blackheath at the RAG next week.

Tension had steadily built during the week with a lot of background noise over player eligibility. On the day, the Scots selected six loan players of whom one was playing his first game, one his second and one his third. Richmond had one established loan player and undoubtedly benefitted from the extra camaraderie and familiarity of their team.

With the bagpipes banished into the distance, Richmond had the louder crowd support. However, it was the Scots who got off to the better start, dominating possession and threatening with a long kick down the touchline which had to be touched down by the Richmond defence.

Gradually Richmond settled and some clattering tackles did little to aid Scottish confidence. Paul Altier was almost away after booting on a loose ball, but the bounce evaded him. When Noah Ferdinand tried to run the ball back, he took a heavy knock as he was engulfed by the Richmond follow up and was penalised for his troubles.

Fifteen metres out, Richmond were well set up, but the Scots frustratingly stole the line out. However, scrum half Dan Nutton’s clearance kick got caught in the wind, and Richmond had a second chance. This time, Jake Monson secured possession and Luc Jones and Altier worked their way to within five metres of the line. The pack swarmed, and the try was scored, putting Richmond in a lead which they never relinquished. It was no surprise to see the scorer was Jones, leading the way in the final game of a distinguished Richmond career.

Richmond were winning the collision battles, and the Scots were further restricted by the first of several calls for crossing from referee Jamie Parr. After seventeen minutes, the Scots were awarded a penalty for coming round the side and opted, perhaps slightly defensively, to kick for the posts. Full back Josh Bellamy made no mistake.

Three minutes later, Richmond extended their lead. Jared Cardew and Luke Spring provided the spadework which earned a Richmond penalty. From the edge of the 22, Richmond set up the drive but were held up. George Nugent and Monson maintained the pressure. Chid Obonna then added valuable yards and finally hooker Harry Hocking got the touchdown. The conversion rattled the post and Richmond had to settle for a 12-3 lead.

Looking well in control, Richmond had a clear advantage in the scrums and, when the Scots were twice penalised in desperate defence, Jake Spurway was yellow carded. Three minutes later, Conor Slevin was illegally stopped, and opposition fly half Tom Wilstead was yellow carded, temporarily reducing the Scots to thirteen. Richmond opted for a tap and go but were thwarted when they rushed the move and ended up bowling the referee over. With the half time whistle imminent, the Scots had a scrum five metres out and escaped when an over eager Richmond conceded a free kick.

Richmond’s second half kick-off ball was short in the wind and rather symbolised their opening ten minutes. An illegal tackle resulted in a Scottish penalty forty-five metres out and again they opted to go for the posts. Full back Bellamy kicked well to reduce the lead to 12-6.

Calmly, Richmond reasserted themselves. Obonna, outstanding throughout the game, made another searing run but the momentum was lost when the support player’s kick was charged down.

After 54 minutes, Richmond got their third try. All game, they were successfully forcing the Scots back and denying them any space for a counter. A jackal earned them a penalty and a short range line out. The Scots held out the first time at the cost of an offside penalty but on the second occasion, they were driven back, giving the alert Hocking his second try, which was very well converted by Grieve.

The 19-6 lead now looked dominant. If there were still doubters, a fourth try three minutes later then required the Scots to score three tries, That never looked likely. That fourth try was probably the best of the afternoon as Obonna came storming through midfield, right to left, before throwing out a lovely long pass to fellow winger Altier, who touched down in the corner. The tricky conversion again hit the post.

Conor Slevin then became the third player to get a yellow card, offering a glimmer to the opposition. However, when the Scots opened up, another call for crossing cost them dear and then the human cannonball Lima Savaiinaea clobbered the unfortunate Bellamy and stopped him in his tracks.

Richmond kept up the relentless pressure and stretched the lead by three more points when given another penalty. With thirteen minutes to go, the Scots finally got a try. This time, they barraged the line after a line out and steadily drew in defenders, with Richmond a man short. A long pass then found young Harlequin Theo Povey on the wide left and he sprinted in at the corner.

Events were now very fast and loose with both sides tiring from the intensity of the game. Somehow there was time for two more Richmond yellow cards to Miles Wakeling and Sam Pim, as Mr Parr sought to keep a lid on the game.

Two men down, Richmond appeared untroubled. The Scots seemed scrambled, unable to put together any cohesive moves. Richmond raised themselves one more time and Monson battered his way to the 22. The ball was then moved down the line to the far right wing where Obonna ran straight and hard to get the fifth try. Appropriately, Grieve added a top rate conversion to take his season’s tally of points over 140. Fred Hosking was adjudged man of the match, a deserved honour on a day when the whole team gave their all.

Rob Powell commented how proud he was of his team’s efforts. ‘ The unity and fight from the lads was excellent all the way through. The result on the day was never really in doubt. I could tell by the way the team warmed up and prepared for this game. At the start of this season, we would have taken third from bottom. Now we need to set up for next year and make sure we push ourselves up the table and are not involved in this fixture again’

Team: C.Grieve, C.Obonna, P.Case, T.Savaiinaea, P.Altier, C.Slevin, L.Jones, T.Bevacqua, H.Hocking, L.Spring, F.Hosking, G.Nugent, J.Monson, J.Cardew, X.Hastings
Subs W.Goffey, C.Freeman,J.Litchfield, M.Wakeling, S.Pim, A.Schwarz, J.Baggott, G.Kitson

Tries: Jones, Hocking (2), Altier, Obonna
Conversions: Grieve (3)
Penalty: Grieve