Richmond completed their season in grand style, scoring six exhilarating second half tries to pull right away from opponents Sedgley Park. The five league points gained meant Richmond finished the season in sixth place. More importantly, it gave a glimpse of the potential of the side to challenge at the top of the table next season.

Alex Post led out the team on his 50th appearance whilst Mark Bright skippered the side in what may be his final Richmond appearance. For Sedgley Park, full back Matt Riley was playing his 440th game, an amazing achievement, whilst fly half Warren Seals was the number one points scorer in the league.

Richmond did not get off to a good start, when a clearance kick was charged down deep in the 22. However, the defence held well, and the scrum looked in good order, ensuring that play soon resumed in the opposition half.

Park renewed the pressure when given a penalty near halfway. Jake Monson was pinged for advancing within ten metres and given a yellow card. Richmond held out at the corner and Park eventually opted to take the points when offered a kick under the posts. Seal gave his side a 0-3 lead and Richmond had ten minutes to hold out with fourteen men.

They nearly did rather better than hold out, getting close to a score in the corner. However, Alex Post was injured stretching for the line and had to be replaced by Callum Torpey.

The game remained tight, both defences looking secure though David Massey regularly threatened to force a gap. However, it was Park who got the next score with a second Seals penalty. Flanker Ollie Leatherbarrow had made a fine run from the home 22 and Richmond, scrambling in defence, were penalised and warned by referee Callum Watson.

Richmond had a number of half chances but were frustrated by handling errors in sight of the line. However, just before half time, they finally got a breakthrough, after a long period of pressure in the far corner. From a line out fifteen metres out, Torpey grabbed possession and made a fine break to get the touch down, very well converted by Lewis Dennett.

If the first half was tense and tight, the second half was the opposite. After just two minutes, Richmond added a penalty for a high tackle to push out their lead to four points. Then they scored one of the tries of the season. Jake Monson somehow secured a steepling kick off ball, almost magically plucking it from the air to gallop into space. Looking for support, he found fellow lock George Nugent, still thirty metres out and seemingly hemmed in by opposition backs. However, Nugent had taken a diagonal line and simply raced on to the line, his long legs leaving the cover in his trail. Dennett added another excellent place kick and the home crowd roared approval.

However, Park were not yet ready to concede and got their first try two minutes later. Once again, Leatherbarrow made the break, skilfully worked into space in the middle of the line. The flanker showed his pace too before he was caught in the 22. However, scrum half Matt Sturgess was in close support and he took the pass to dive over. Seals’ conversion took the score to 17-13, still anybody’s game.

By now Richmond looked much more confident and clearly keen to throw the ball around. Park were struggling to match the energy level and leaking penalties, not helped by a yellow card for Leatherbarrow. This time Ntinga Mpiko had a good gallop, drawing a high tackle and penalty. From five metres out, the pack drove forward and Nugent had his second try. He must wish the season was just starting.

With Park still a man short, Richmond soon added their fourth try to secure the bonus point. Luc Jones started the move, feinting to kick before spotting space and running out of the 22, drawing in a defender and passing to Chidera Obonna. The winger was still fifty metres out but had far too much pace and guile to be stopped. Almost inevitably Dennett added the tricky conversion.

Five minutes later, Richmond had to scramble in defence, defending a drive about ten metres out. When his team turned over possession, Jones had little chance to get a kick away and, once again opened up, this time across the posts. The passing was now excellent, and the ball was moved swiftly down the line to Obonna. The winger might have scored on his own, but he judged the moment beautifully, drawing the last defender before slipping an inside pass to the supporting Paddy Case. The centre, fit again and playing at his best, accelerated to the posts, Dennett’s kick taking the score to 36-13.

By now the substitutes were nearly all on, and Alex Burrage had a chance to make his mark, a lovely long flat pass finding danger man Obonna. Once again, the winger did well to make good yards before slipping the scoring pass to fellow winger Charlie Cadogan to score his first try for the first team in another promising performance.

With ten minutes to go, Sedgley Park, who had almost become bystanders, had a moment of welcome cheer. Two successive penalties enabled them to set up just over ten metres out. Securing the ball at the line out, they moved the ball down the line, with Richmond always looking outnumbered in defence. Finally, the ball reached Alex Wills and the winger touched down in the corner.

Richmond wanted one last try to reach fifty and finish the season in style. They got it with the final action of the game. Park were on the attack and were stopped inside the home ten metre line. Torpey, who has finished the season well, threw a quick pass to Obonna and the winger, Richmond’s man of the match, hared in from fifty metres. Burrage added his second conversion.

Tries: Torpey, Nugent (2), Obonna (2), Case, Cadogan
Penalty: Dennett
Conversions: Dennett (4). Burrage (2)

Team: O’Meara, Cadogan, Case, Massey, Obonna, Dennett, Jones, Spring, Post, Mpiko, Monson, Nugent, Breeze, Wills, Bright

Subs: Torpey, Bentley, Gray, Marsh, Burrage