Richmond 26 London Scottish 27

After facing a deficit of 7-24 in the 43rd minute, a fired up Richmond got agonisingly close to a last minute win in another titanic battle with the auld enemy. Three yellow cards in the last quarter did not help their cause, but they still managed to rattle the Scots, who must have thought they had the game won after the third of their well worked tries.

An inaccurate first half cost Richmond dear, and they will surely be looking to exact revenge in the return fixture on May 2. The Scots took four league points from this game and Richmond a precious two, meaning the two sides are appropriately locked together in joint twelfth position, with Richmond having the ‘points difference’ advantage.

Richmond fielded a strong pack, though missing two of their biggest forwards. In the backs, there was less continuity, with a whole back line of injured and unavailable players. Hopefully the three week break will provide the chance to replenish numbers.

The Scots were boosted by their previous week’s win over Doncaster. Among half a dozen young Harlequins in their side, both Sean Kerr and Josh Bellamy have in previous seasons also spent time in the Richmond first team.

On a freezing cold day, the biggest crowd of the season attended the Athletic Ground, with car parking stretched to the limit. London Scottish conceded the first of eight first half penalties in the opening minutes, when Luc Jones was tackled high, but Richmond gained limited ground. Instead, after just four minutes, the Scots took the lead after a set scrum. Moving the ball neatly down the line, they tried a kick and chase, which was a good option in the conditions. Noah Ferdinand was first to the ball and, when he was held at the line, managed to flip a pass to centre Robbie McCallum for the touchdown. The outstanding Bellamy added the first of three top class conversions, which were to prove crucial.

Gradually Richmond settled to the task and used their big forwards to batter a staunch Scottish defence. After a succession of penalties, Richmond had the chance to drive from a short range line out but were held on the line. When they moved the ball wide, passes did not stick. The most incisive contribution came from a break by full back Archie Brosch, who again looked dangerous in attack.

Just after the half hour, the forwards got back in the opposition 22, courtesy of a break by Ethan Benson. With the Scots on a warning, the pack drove towards the posts before the ever alert Luc Jones spotted a chink and nipped over from short range. Callum Grieve’s conversion levelled the scores. But, crucially, not for long.

The dangerous winger Hayden Hyde made a half break, drawing in several defenders and, when the ball was moved wide, Richmond illegally blocked the pass and were penalised. Bellamy kicked the penalty. Two minutes later, he needed the kicking tee again, this time for a conversion. The try followed a lost Richmond lineout, after which fly half Tom Wilstead kicked perfectly to the corner where Noah Ferdinand was the grateful recipient. These two scores in the last five minutes of the half were crucial in the final outcome

Two minutes into the second half, things got worse for Richmond. Another free flowing Scottish attack made good ground before Bellamy jabbed a kick ahead. Hyde was perfectly positioned to follow up, reaching the ball quickly enough to kick it on the volley. The subsequent bounce was then fortunate, but the skill involved was excellent. The last Richmond defender slipped as he turned, and Hyde was able to jog in under the posts for a 7-24 score.

However, Richmond now got themselves back on the front foot, with the introduction of substitute Sam Pim providing another focus and adding some attacking ‘biff’. Under pressure, the Scots conceded a further six second half penalties.

After 56 minutes, Scottish skipper Bailey Ransom was finally yellow carded, and Richmond got a good drive going from the line out, with hooker Will Goffey getting the touch down. The conversion hit the post. Small margins.

With Richmond now playing a much faster game, more scoring opportunities looked likely, especially as both sides made errors catching the high ball under the late afternoon lights. However, Richmond’s task got harder when Xavier Hastings got a yellow card in defence. Lewis Dennett kept probing for a 50/22 but the bounce of the ball was not kind.

Still, Richmond persisted in battering a tiring Scots defence, with Jake Monson, Lucas Schmid and Sam Pim always prominent. In the scrums, the front row were rock solid. After 66 minutes, the Scots gave away another penalty and the seven man pack got a slow shove going. Cheered on by the crowd, Goffey finally got the touchdown and Grieve’s conversion took the score to 19-24 with fourteen minutes to go.

Once again, the Scots promptly broke back. A break out of defence was helped by what looked like a forwards pass but, when they got into the 22, Alex Schwarz was yellow carded in desperate defence and Bellamy restored the eight point lead with another penalty.

However, it was still not over and, whatever your colours, you had to admire Richmond’s cussed defiance. With six minutes to go, thirteen man Richmond got their fourth try as a mass of bodies forced their way over in the corner after a five metre line out. Goffey was again at the back earning himself a hat trick and Grieve added an excellent conversion.

That fourth try was worth a valuable two league points, but Richmond still wanted five. However, when Jimmy Litchfield departed on another yellow card, only three minutes remained, and Richmond could not get themselves close again. The Scots held on and probably deserved their win, but just wait for May 2.

Team: A. Brosch, A.O’Mara, C.Grieve, R.Du Randt, J.Addams, L.Dennett, L.Jones, S.Brownhill, H.Hocking, L.Spring, J. Monson, M.Wakeling, T.Benson, X.Hastings, L.Schmid
Subs: W.Goffey,T.Bevaqua, J.Litchfield, C.Gray, D.Byrne, S.Pim, A.Schwarz, A,Burrage

Tries: Jones, Goffey (3)
Conversions: Grieve (3)