Hartpury 7 Richmond 7

On a sodden wet night, Richmond tenaciously contested this game against fifth placed Hartpury and returned with two invaluable away points from the draw. Richmond needed a big first half effort to hold out their opponents but edged the second half, during which they had more scoring chances. The two points gained take Richmond to 34 points, leaving them twelfth in the table, still just five points behind Ampthill, who lost at home to Coventry. London Scottish had a squeaky home win, 24-21 after a 24-0 half time score, and they are now five points behind Richmond.

There was just one change to the starting XV, Xavier Hastings returning to replace the injured Jared Cardew. There was also one noteworthy change on the bench, where Freddie Hosking made a very welcome return after a horrible injury over three years ago.

Richmond kicked off with the rain briefly relenting after a steady downpour for most of the afternoon. It soon returned, but not before Richmond had the opening score after just two minutes. Hartpury had cleared the skiddy kick off ball, but Richmond regained possession at the line out. When the ball was moved down the line, there was a pile up at the tackle and Richmond were awarded a penalty by international referee Christophe Ridley.

Jake Monson secured the line out ball around eight metres out and the pack drove for the line. Initial progress was limited but, on the second shove, Hartpury were forced back, and Will Goffey was able to get the touch down. Callum Grieve added the conversion from the wide left. His successful kick was to prove vital.

Richmond got further encouragement from a penalty at the first scrum. However, Hartpury spoiled Richmond’s line out ball and, with the help of another penalty, forced their way up the touchline to five metres. Somehow Richmond held out on their line and earned a penalty courtesy of a smart jackal. As conditions worsened, both sides kicked relentlessly in search of advantage. Richmond earned another scrum penalty, but Hartpury dominated the line out, with Dale Lemon a real menace.

After 17 minutes, Hartpury levelled the scores. After a succession of line outs, Hartpury set up twenty-five metres out and ran the ball. A high tackle cost Richmond a penalty which was kicked into the corner. Hartpury exerted a lot of pressure, but the Richmond defence held out well. However, Hartpury stayed patient and finally eighteen year old scrum half Cai Gealy, from the Bristol Academy, picked up and stretched over for the score, converted by fly half Harry Bazalgette.

After twenty minutes, Richmond conceded a penalty for offside and not retreating, and Hartpury kicked to the 22, from where they won the line out. However, as they set up to attack, winger Greg Kitson pock poicketed the ball and set off up the muddy touchline and into the Hartpury half. With full back Isaac Marsh tracking back, Kitson tried a kick and chase, but Hartpury were able to get there first and scrambled the ball to touch.

Ten minutes later, the Richmond defence again worked ferociously to hold up a Hartpury assault on the line. Play switched to the other end and Luc Jones put a neat grubber up the blindside and deep into the 22. However, Richmond could not disturb the Hartpury line out. Finally, late in the half, Richmond again got close from an excellent line kick by Grieve but Hartpury absorbed the pressure and steadily drove Richmond back and out of the 22.

At half time it was still 7-7, with the defences the winners. There had been twenty-five line outs.

With conditions getting heavier under foot and handling errors inevitable with the greasy ball, both sides continued to test each other with some steepling box kicks mixed with longer kicks in the search for space. At one stage, the two sides each kicked eight times in succession as they probed space along the touchline. For Richmond skipper Luc Jones was the dominant kicker and receiver. He was outstanding, hardly misjudging a single kick and staying the course for the full eighty minutes in heavy conditions.

There were fourteen more line outs. Hartpury continued to edge possession, but Richmond improved their share in the second half. As the game entered the last quarter, the Richmond defence remained in control and Hartpury started to make errors under the aerial assault. Twice, with Hosking taking the lead, Richmond charged down Hartpury clearances, but the bounce of the ball was not kind. Another close range penalty was lost when a break out of handbags resulted in the penalty being reversed.

Surely, Richmond were building to a deciding score. But , after 72 minutes, it was Hartpury who had the best chance after they were awarded a penalty for holding on, half way out on the left. Bazalgette lined up his kick . The fly half is the top points scorer in the Champ. However, this was not his day and nor were the kicking conditions straightforward. Instead, the ball thudded against the right hand post, bounced into Richmond hands and with great relied was cleared.

There was time for one lovely cross field kick by Lewis Dennett deep into the Hartpury 22. But Richmond could not steal that pesky line out ball and Hartpury were more than happy to kick the ball into touch,

Rob Powell commented afterwards:

“It was a fantastic effort by the boys. Hartpury are really good and strong, high in the league. For us to come here and get two points is a massive achievement. Unfortunately, it was disappointing to come away with less than a win. The second half we were dominant in terms of territory, possession and field position and just couldn’t get over their line. They were disciplined and didn’t give penalties away. But if it was a boxing match, it would have been six rounds to us in the second half and none to them. But a really good effort, proud of the lads, two points on the road. A tough place on a Friday night. Well-deserved break next week.’

Team: C.Grieve, C.Obonna, P.Case, J.Baggott, G.Kitson, A.Burrage, L.Jones, T.Bevacqua, W.Goffey, L.Spring, J. Monson, G.Nugent, E.Benson A.Hastings, S.Pim

Subs: H.Hocking, S.Brownhill, J.Litchfield, M.Wakeling, F.Hosking, F.Charles, L.Dennett, R.Du Randt

Tries: W.Goffey
Conversion: Grieve