In an outstanding display, a revved up and well prepared Richmond side raced into a seven point lead after just four minutes and never let up, running in four tries in each half and conceding just one score. It was an important game for both Richmond and Cambridge (‘The Blood and Sand’), as both sides needed a win to close the gap with the sides above. Richmond now remain in 12th position, but with a clear lead over Cambridge and the Scots and just a one point deficit behind Ampthill.

After a disappointing second half against Coventry, Richmond made a number of changes, especially in the backs. Jason Baggott made his first league start of the season at fly half, with Callum Grieve moving to full back. In the centre, Tololima Savaiinaea returned, whilst in the front row, Barnaby Vaughan and Harry Hocking both earned starts.

Cambridge had a crowd of nearly 1200 and exuded cautious confidence following a close two point defeat to Nottingham the previous week. However, the home team knocked on twice under pressure in the opening minutes and Richmond got a good shove at the first set scrum, using the possession to barrage the 22. Finally on the blindside, skipper Alex Schwarz, who had an excellent game, put Callum Grieve into space with a beautifully timed pass and the full back in turn sent in Chidera Obonna with the Cambridge defence looking shellshocked.

The Blood and Sand did not help their cause as they then kicked out on the full. Their error rate continued to rise. Richmond by contrast looked very pumped up with the belligerent Luke Spring prominent and Barnaby Vaughan supporting him well. After thirteen minutes, Richmond got their second try. It started with overthrown line out ball, but Hocking immediately made amends with a strong break on the right touchline. When the ball reached Obonna, the winger dodged and weaved to get close, before offloading to the well placed Sam Pim who claimed the touchdown for a 0-12 scoreline.

Three minutes later, a totally dominant Richmond had their third try. Schwarz made good yards with a grubber, forcing Cambridge full back Otumaka Mausia into a rushed clearance. From the line out thirty metres out, Jake Cardew stormed forward with Hocking in support and the hooker gave a scoring pass to No 8 Pim.

Pim was outstanding in those first 20 minutes, so it was a blow when he was yellow carded, seemingly for a high tackle. However, Cambridge could claim no advantage, even with a five-metre line out, as Richmond turned over possession and cleared. After 32 minutes, Richmond claimed their bonus point try, after Savaiinaea again drew in defenders before the ball was moved wide to Paddy Case. The centre ran at pace down the wing before linking well with the speeding Josh Addams. The winger made no mistake, drawing the defender before giving a scoring pass to Baggott who touched down under the posts.

At this point, Richmond were in total control, even a tight group of their supporters winning the noise level battle. However, the Blood and Sand gave themselves a glimmer with a try at the end of the first half. It followed a rare mistake when Richmond dropped an up and under and conceded a penalty. Cambridge worked the ball out to the left where winger Ethan Thorne had a run in to the corner.

Any realistic chance of a Cambridge comeback was pretty much wiped out in the first couple of minutes of the second half. The dependable Grieve, looking very much at home at full back, kicked to the corner and Jake Monson claimed the line out ball. The pack mauled forward to the line and George Nugent scored his fifth try of the season, getting low and stretching over.

Cambridge now enjoyed more of the ball and their substitutions added some energy and belief. But a resolute Richmond defence were giving away nothing and continued to force errors and frustration. The two Cambridge locks worked hard at the line out, but Richmond won their share of the ball with Miles Wakeling a useful provider at the back.

After 60 minutes, Richmond got their sixth try. Cambridge again kicked straight out, and Richmond set up in the 22. When the ball was moved down the line, Case took a well-timed pass to burst through a tackle and run twenty metres to the line.

Anything a back can do, a forward can do better. Next, it was Monson’s turn, when Pim slipped a short pass to the Richmond lock with forty metres and two potential defenders ahead. It was an unfair contest as Monson simply charged straight and clear to the posts with neither defender getting noticeably closer.

The eighth try, taking the score over fifty, came in the 77th minute and was another well worked try by the backline. Lewis Dennett, who had replaced the admirable Baggott, threw a beautifully timed flat pass to send Ronnie Du Randt storming at pace towards the 22. With the cover coming across, Addams did really well to get in position for the pass and then somehow dive into the corner to make the touchdown. Grieve kicked the best of his seven conversions and Richmond had their highest ever Champ(ionship) score.

There will be tougher opposition than Cambridge on this day, but Richmond just did not let them settle at all.

Head of rugby Rob Powell commented ‘I thought it was a fantastic effort. Although we scored a lot of points, I thought our defensive work was outstanding. We were disappointed with our second half performance against Coventry, but we put that right today. If we keep playing like that, we’ll be ok. The score was big, but it was the effort which counted’.

Team: C.Grieve, C. Obonna, P.Case, T.Savaiinaea, J.Addams, J.Baggott, A,Schwarz, B.Vauighan, H.Hocking, L.Spring, J. Monson, G. Nugent, E.Benson, J.Cardew, S.Pim
Subs W.Goffey, C.Freeman, J. Litchfield, X.Hastings, M.Wakeling, L.Jones, L.Dennett

Tries: Obonna, Pim (2), Baggott, Nugent, Case, Monson, Addams
Conversions: Grieve (7)