Richmond made it three wins out of three with an eight try defeat of Northern visitors Darlington Mowden Park. Last season DMP had done the double over Richmond, so this victory was all the sweeter. The five points earned lift Richmond to fourth in the league table, just one bonus point behind Moseley and Rotherham and two behind leaders Rams.

Richmond had four changes to their side, mainly in the forwards. The introduction of Cameron Gray and Max Murphy meant that the forwards did not lack size. On the bench, nineteen year old Frank McMillan made his club debut. DMP fielded a mix of experience, with 43 year old lock Talite Vaiolete and 39 year old Garry Law playing alongside three youngsters from Newcastle Academy. The late withdrawal of player coach Law will not have helped preparations. Winger Ollie Walker was playing his 100th club game.

The threat of thundery showers abated through the morning, so the playing conditions were excellent apart from a tricky wind. Richmond started in forceful fashion but conceded two early penalties, one especially frustrating after a good shove in the first scrum. DMP had two visits to the home 22 in the first five minutes, but the home defence looked convincing.

After eight minutes, Richmond opened the scoring, after DMP conceded a penalty for a high tackle. Lewis Dennett put his side within five metres and the forward drive was all powerful, Henry Wills getting the touchdown. Callum Grieve added the conversion.

Both sides found the wind hard to judge, resulting in several kicks going out on the full. In the 18th minute, two successive penalties gave DMP the chance to build pressure in the 22. For the first time, the home defence were forced back, and a couple of neat passes allowed full back Josh Ree to wriggle through from ten metres, just shrugging off the final defender. Harry Read added the conversion from in front to level the scores.

Just before the half hour, referee Ian Kiy finally found in favour of Richmond at the set scrum, and Richmond had a long penalty in front. They might have opted for the corner, given the strength of their drive but instead Grieve went for the kick, the ball drifting well right in the stiff wind.

Three minutes later another DMP high tackle allowed Dennett to kick within twenty metres. This time the drive was further out and even more impressive, with the momentum reaching running pace before Jake Monson got the touchdown.

Richmond were now monopolising possession and the backs had plenty of ball. After a couple of ‘near’ scores, Paddy Case added the third try just before half time. The DMP lineout feed was crooked, gifting Richmond counter attacking ball. Case and winger Chidera Obonna were both involved in the attack before the centre hacked on a loose ball which he gathered and touched down for a 17-7 half time lead.

With the wind in their favour in the second half, Richmond looked full of running, and DMP struggled to get out of their half. Richmond now had to convert chances and were frustrated for a while by some rather wild passing. However, the pressure steadily built and after 47 minutes they had their first bonus point of the season as Lucas Schmid added the fourth try. His effort was a brave one, charging down a clearance kick and touching it down just before it ran dead.

Tempers got a little frayed now with some rather over robust exchanges. Alex Schwarz was replaced by Rhett Butler whilst DMP were forced into several changes in the backs. Richmond seemed distracted for a while, failing to convert several chances deep in the 22. However, when Ben Frankland was yellow carded, more holes appeared in the visitors’ defence and this time Richmond made it count, Butler well positioned to complete a counter attack from a drop out.

With the score 29-7, there were eighteen minutes left and Richmond finally converted pressure into points. DMP conceded another yellow card, this time centre Harry Hadfield, and Butler was the next scorer, again well placed to complete a break by the increasingly influential Case.

Debutant Frank McMillan came on with fifteen minutes left, as Richmond rang the changes. Twice the ball was moved out to the wide right and twice McMillan scored, the second time with some very neat quick, slow, quick footwork.

Following the two excellent away wins, a 48 point home win will provide further confidence. The extra encouragement is that it could easily and probably should have been more. DMP have had a tough start to the season and were not helped by copious enforced changes in the backs. They will be keen on revenge and will provide tough opposition up in Darlington.

Tries: Wills, Monson, Case, Schmid, Butler (2), McMillan (2)
Conversions: Grieve (3), Dennett
PoTM: Lucas Schmid

Team: Grieve, O’Meara, Case, Massey, Obonna, Dennett, Schwarz, Bevacqua, Torpey, Spring, Gray, Nugent, Monson, Wills, Schmid

Replacements: Goffey, Freeman, Murphy, Butler, McMillan