ROSSLYN PARK 19 RICHMOND 21

Rob Powell’s men made it 2 wins out of 2 by beating local rivals Rosslyn Park in the battle of South-West London. A massive game was on the cards in Barnes and Lewis Dennett’s last minute drop goal claimed the win for Richmond.

The game started with an early penalty won in the 3rd minute that Grieve successfully converted to make the score 0-3. Shortly after this, Rosslyn Park got the first try of the game from a lineout inside the Richmond 22 and scored on the first phase as Benjamin Marfo dotted down under the posts, conversion was successful from Luc Smith to make the score 7-3. In the 21st minute from a tap and go on the Richmond 5m line and several phases, James Cordy-Redden scored in the corner to make the score 12-3 to Park, conversion was successful again from Luc Smith to make the score 14-3. Richmond scored their first try of the game from captain David Massey in the 25th minute who scored from a crash ball, the conversion hit the post from Dennett to make the score 14-8. In the 37th minute, Grieve making good use of his long-range kicking, successfully converting a penalty from half-way to make it 14-11. On the stroke of half-time, hooker Callum Torpey crashed over from a driving maul and the conversion was successful from Grieve meaning Richmond lead 14-18 at the break.

The first quarter of the second half started closely with both sides defending for majority of it. In the 62nd minute winger, Josh Amadi scored in the corner making a break through the Richmond defence, conversion was missed from Smith and Park took the lead to 19-18. Two near penalty misses from Grieve thought it might not be Richmond’s day but then in the last play of the game Lewis Dennett, Wilkinson style scored a drop goal to secure the win!

Richmond now sit 5th in the table on 8 points just two points off Rams who are top of the league on 10 points and Park now sit 11th.

Special mention to PoTM, Jake Monson putting in a stellar all-round performance on his 50th cap for the club.

Tries: David Massey, Callum Torpey
Conversions: Grieve
Penalties: Grieve x2
Drop Goal: Lewis Dennett
PoTM: Jake Monson

Team: C. Grieve, A. O’Meara, S. Dardis, D. Massey ©, C. Obonna, L. Dennett, A. Schwarz, L. Schmid, T. Saysell, E. Benson, J. Monson, G. Nugent, L. Spring, C. Torpey, T. Bevacqua

Subs: W. Goffey, C. Freeman, H. Wills, M. Marsh, S. Smith