In their first Friday night game of the season, Richmond ran up another six tries to claim five more precious points and, for a few hours at least, to sit at the top of the table. Visitors Birmingham Moseley are one of the most established sides in the league and always provide tough competition. Last season, they claimed a victory and a draw in the ‘head to heads’ with Richmond, so there was honour to retrieve.

Richmond fielded a side little changed from the one which beat Bishop’s Stortford. Rotations at scrum half and in the front row showed the increased depth in the squad this year. Visitors Moseley started the season well but have suffered injuries which have stalled progress. For this game they borrowed centres Tom Watson and Ryan Crowley from Chinnor, whilst ex Richmond player Adam Peters started at number six.

Richmond had an early opportunity when a penalty for a high tackle allowed Lewis Dennett to kick to within ten metres, but the lineout routine then malfunctioned. However, momentum was restored by a superb kick into space by skipper Luc Jones. The follow up too was excellent as Moseley were forced back into deep defence. A second penalty provided the forwards with a chance to pick and drive, but the Moseley defence was tight. Finally, a long pass out to the right looked at first to be too loopy to give Alex O’Meara a chance, but the winger showed quick feet to beat the cover and touch down. Callum Grieve added a very good conversion.

The next fifteen minutes were dominated by the visitors, fly half Tommy Taylor kicking beautifully to pin Richmond back. The Richmond defence was thoroughly tested and generally held out well but, each time they looked like escaping, they conceded a penalty. Loanee centre Crowley got closest with a fine diagonal run before being held up. However, after 23 minutes, Moseley finally got a deserved score, the excellent Aquile Smith finishing in the right hand corner after another period of pressure close to the line. Taylor’s touchline conversion levelled the scores.

Richmond needed some inspiration and George Nugent set a good example, thumping his way through tackles on halfway and finding Jake Monson in good support. Chidera Obonna carried on the move and, when stopped just short of the line, threw what looked a lovely try scoring offload. However. the well positioned referee Jamie Parr adjudged it a forward pass. The reprieve was brief. Moseley hooker Ryan Roach departed injured, and a strong scrum provided space for Jones to kick though neatly and get to the touch down first. Grieve again added the conversion.

Richmond were now on a roll. O’Meara, full of mazy running all evening, made the initial broach, and Moseley were pressurised into conceding a defensive penalty in front. Grieve made no mistake to extend the lead to two scores ahead. Looking full of confidence, Richmond added two more tries in the final five minutes of the half. For the first, an attack down the left hand touchline followed a line out. The initial attack was stopped a few metres short, but the forwards stayed patient before Christian Freeman battered his way over, Grieve again converting.

The fourth try was the best of the lot. The move started at another line out near the Moseley ten metre line. The ball was moved at pace through a dazzling set of offloads which involved forwards and backs. Sam Dardis, Will Goffey and the mobile Freeman were certainly among those involved before O’Meara got the scoring pass to claim his second try of the game. The half time score was 29-7 after a rousing first half.

Moseley came out in sober mood after the chastening last quarter, and they worked hard to cut the lead. Coming up faster in defence, they pressed Richmond back and were awarded two successive penalties. Richmond looked a bit slow getting back into position and a Moseley forward, probably Ollie Stedman made good ground before the ball was moved wide to winger Smith. He had plenty to do as the pass was not sympathetic, but he made no mistake completing his second try, again well converted by Taylor.

Six minutes later, after a period of kick tennis, Richmond added their fifth try. Once again man of the match Jones was the instigator with another astute little grubber kick. Several Richmond players followed up well and James Langston judged the bounce best to get the score. Grieve’s kick thumped the posts.

Richmond kept creating chances, seemingly knocking back defenders at will and making good yards in the process. O’Meara was almost away on an interception and then Sam Dardis touched the ball down after some sort of ricochet. Referee and linesman had a protracted conversation before turning it down. Finally, after 68 minutes, a well worked line out routine provided a straight run to the corner for Callum Torpey. He still had defenders to beat but ran hard and straight to claim the sixth try.

Moseley kept battling. Skipper Stedman was always confrontational, Will Safe was prominent at lock and Crowley showed a neat sidestep in attack. They were back on attack when Jimmy Litchfield decided enough was enough and disdainfully booted the ball out. Richmond face the long and testing journey to Plymouth next week and will trust they don’t get either the downpour or the result that they endured last season.

Tries: O’Meara (2), Jones, Freeman, Langston, Torpey
Conversions: Grieve (3)
Penalties: Grieve (2)
PoTM: Luc Jones

Team: Grieve, O’Meara, Langston, Dardis, Obonna, Dennett, Jones(c), Freeman, Goffey, Spring, Murphy, Nugent, Monson, Wakeling, Pim

Replacements: Torpey, Litchfield, Benson, Schwarz, S. Smith