Coventry 48 Richmond 21

It was Groundhog night at Butts Park Arena as Richmond contested the first half admirably before conceding five second half tries in the last 35 minutes of the second half. This was the same outcome as in the November fixture, when Richmond lost 52-17, conceding five tries in the last 25 minutes. The frustration will be that, after scoring three excellent tries in the first half, Richmond could not turn further opportunities into a precious bonus point.

With London Scottish getting well beaten by Worcester, and Cambridge picking up just one point against Nottingham, league positions remain largely unchanged.

On a wet night, an 8 o’clock kick off against a full time Coventry looked a stiff challenge. Additionally, the hosts were full of extra confidence from their previous game, in which they lost by just two points to league leaders Ealing, going down 36-34.

With a number of injured players gradually making their way back to fitness, Richmond were delighted to recall lock George Nugent, whilst Sam Pim and Jimmy Litchfield were reintroduced on the bench after serving periods of suspension. Coventry fielded a largely familiar and settled side, with skipper Jordan Poole celebrating his 100th club cap.

Richmond kicked off, playing with the wind. The initial scrums were well contested, before Richmond conceded a penalty for offside. From the line out, Coventry worked the ball out to the left where new winger Jack Reeves, ex Gloucester, showed impressive speed to outpace the cover. After six minutes, Coventry lead 5-0.

Richmond soon had a chance to counter after Alex Burrage intelligently stabbed the ball though to five metres. Scrum half Josh Barton cleared to twenty metres from the line out, but the Richmond pack maintained the pressure through a sequence of phases, patiently picking and driving and varying the angle of attack. Finally, Freddie Charles, who had another good game, was able to find a gap for his first club try. Callum Grieve added the conversion for a 5-7 lead.

Coventry were determined to run the ball despite the greasy conditions. The backs looked full of running with full back Tom Bacon the catalyst and Api Bavadra the cutting edge. After thirteen minutes, No 6 Alan Ferrie made his first of two contributions to a weekend for the Scots, running in from distance after some excellent build up play involving both backs and forwards.

Richmond worked hard in defence, and, for a while, Coventry handling errors helped to spoil their clean breaks. However, after half an hour, Coventry added a third try, Bavadra doing the damage before flanker Chester Owen sent Barton clear to take the score to 19-7.

Richmond now played their best rugby to regain the lead, adding two converted tries before half time. The first try followed some excellent defence on their line, resulting in Coventry being held up. When Coventry then conceded a penalty for obstruction, Grieve provided a beautifully judged line kick to set up prime position, deep within the opposition 22. Once again, the pack took full advantage, Jake Monson always to the fore, before Donnacha Byrne got a deserved debut try, with supportive heft provided by Theo Bevacqua.

In the final five minutes of the half, Luke Spring provided an important tackle before Richmond set up again around ten metres out. The ball was then moved neatly across the posts, left to right, before Monson found a lovely reverse angle to run clear to the posts. The two conversions left Richmond 19-21 ahead with a strong replacement bench and plenty to play for.

A tightly judged forward pass probably cost Richmond an early second half score, before the game turned at the next set scrum. This time, Coventry upped the pressure, maintaining the shove till referee Joe Jones awarded a penalty. Ten metres out, the home pack were now relentless, drawing in defenders till winger Morgan Adderley-Jones had a simple stroll to the line.

Richmond still had their chances, but Coventry now looked much more confident, and Bacon remained a livewire at the back. After 60 minutes, a tiring Richmond dropped a low pass on half way, setting up a Coventry scrum. When the scrum wheeled, scrum half Jack Maunder had clear space ahead and weaved his way forward from thirty metres. Ten metres out, he found Bavadra in support and clear to step inside the last two defenders. Once again, it was a mirror try to one scored in the first game at the RAG.

With a ten point lead, a confident Coventry side opened up. Their back line had plenty of power and this time it was Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti who burst through the defensive line. The energetic Ferrie was in perfect place to pick up and swivel his way over for a 36-21 scoreline. Despite the best efforts of the replacements, especially Sam Pim, Richmond were now reeling and conceded a seventh try when David Opoku started and eventually finished another sweeping backs’ move.

By this time, Richmond’s focus was clearly less on defence and more on claiming a fourth try to collect a deserved bonus point. The best chance came in the last three minutes when the pack set up five metres out after a penalty kick to the corner. The line out had been a reliable and efficient source of possession all game, but sadly not at this moment, when it all looked a bit rushed. A big Coventry hand intervened and flapped the ball clear.

With the clock heading towards 10pm, Coventry just had time to add one more try. The aptly named No 8 Morgan Strong barraged his way over from fifteen meres, brushing off tired tackles with disdain. After a creditable and encouraging first half, Richmond were well beaten.

Team: C.Grieve, C.Obonna, P.Case, J.Baggott, A.O’Meara, A.Burrage, F.Charles, T.Bevacqua, W.Goffey, L.Spring, J. Monson, G.Nugent, D.Ryan, J.Cardew, E.Benson
Subs H.Hocking, C.Freeman, J.Litchfield, M.Wakeling, S.Pim, L.Jones, L.Dennett, G.Kitson.

Tries: Charles, Ryan, Monson
Conversions: Grieve (3)