Rounding off the very best of seasons, league champions Richmond claimed their 21st win with a six try to four victory over their oldest rivals Blackheath.

Whilst the fixture didn’t have the tension associated with promotion or relegation, both sides had plenty of motivation. Richmond wanted to preserve their remarkable record of just three defeats all season and to showcase their brand of rugby to their biggest crowd of the season. Blackheath were equally keen to mark the departure after eight years of their accomplished coach James Shanahan, together with the retirement of five senior players, most notably centre Marcus Burcham after a remarkable 283 Club caps.

Richmond fielded a familiar side, the rapid Sam Smith getting a deserved start on the wing and stalwart Jimmy Litchfield playing his 101st game and collecting his prestigious 100 cap award. Blackheath featured two half backs, Tom Ffitch and Jordan Burns, who had both worn the Richmond colours earlier in their careers.

The respective second teams played a 42-42 match immediately before the first teams and expectations were that this game would be just as open and high scoring. However, both sides started the game with some crunching collisions and neither side could readily find open space. Richmond suffered a big blow when centurion Litchfield departed the field with an unfortunate arm injury. Club did get the first score after thirteen minutes, but it was down to a front row barrage, not open play, after a penalty and kick to the corner. Archie Holland was awarded the try after referee and linesman consulted and Tom Ffitch added the conversion.

All season Richmond have tended to respond quickly to any tries conceded. This time it took just three minutes. Sam Dardis, playing on the wing, urgently signalled to Callum Grieve that he had open space ahead. Grieve, who kicked immaculately all afternoon, duly judged the kick perfectly and, when it bounced up on the hard ground, it was tapped back to the advancing Chris Freeman who was left to run in from ten metres. Grieve succeeded with the first of five conversions, mostly from wide out. During the game, he passed 250 points for the season.

The second try followed a penalty given at the breakdown after a towering box kick from skipper Alex Schwarz. From the five metre line out, the forwards patiently battered the defensive line, until the ball was finally moved wide and Grieve sent a wonderful long flat pass inches past the nose of a defender all the way to Dardis for a try in the corner.

Just on the half hour, Richmond got their third. From a penalty, they had a line out ten metres out, from which the pack drove towards the line. Sam Pim and Lima Saviinaea both made thumping charges to suck in defenders before the ball was moved down the line, Paddy Case sending Sam Smith clear down the left wing. At half time, Richmond led 21-7.

Richmond had early second half chances but lost a short range line out and conceded a penalty for a high tackle. Instead, after 46 minutes, Blackheath got the next score, and it was a good one. Centre turned flanker Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas was the scorer, running a lovely diagonal line from left to right to scorch to the posts untouched.

Richmond were getting mildly frustrated by more mistakes close to the line, but it was a Club error which prompted the game’s next score. A knock on allowed Grieve to retrieve possession and he kicked a perfectly judged 50/22 to put his side within fifteen metres. This time, they stayed patient though another penalty, a scrum, a tap penalty and then another scrum. Finally, George Nugent found some space for a gallop before slipping an astute inside scoring pass to fellow lock Jake Monson, who shrugged off the final defender.

With the lead now 26-12 Richmond added two more tries in the next ten minutes. A stubbed cross kick was perfectly judged to find space on the wide right and an inside pass sent man of the match Smith clear for his second try of the game.

Richmond’s final try was probably the best of their day and a good way to wrap up their season. Sam Pim, who was again hugely influential, started things by claiming loose ball which was moved out wide on the left. The handling was excellent as the ball was then switched back across the posts to the right, and Savaiinaea showed some fine pace, pulling away from defenders to run in from twenty-five metres.

At 40-12, the score looked rather harsh on a Blackheath side who, prompted by Burns, had had their chances and battled hard in defence. They put things right with two tries in the final eight minutes. Both followed close range possession, their player of the game Hirskyj-Douglas getting his second of the match before prop Will Davis had the final word, forcing his way over from a line out.

And then the fun began.

Team: O’Meara, Smith, Case, Savaiinaea, Dardis, Grieve, Schwarz, Freeman, Goffey, Spring, Monson, Nugent, Benson, Hastings, Pim

Replacements: Vaughan, Murray, Wakeling, Dennett, Marsh

Tries: Freeman, Dardis, Smith (2), Monson, Savaiinaea
Conversions: Grieve (5)