Richmond 33 Bedford Blues 52

After a challenging first half against Bedford Blues, Richmond fought back with great spirit in the second half to score four tries and earn a vital bonus point. That single point pushes Richmond six points above the London Scots with two league games to go. The higher placed of the two sides will claim home status in the relegation semi-final, which starts in four weeks’ time.

Under Head coach Mike Rayer, Bedford have had another excellent season, looking well set to claim second place behind Ealing. Their link with Northampton has provided some added depth to bolster a side best known for its pacy backs. Richmond had a strong pack but were missing a number of familiar names in their backline. On the bench, Richmond gave debuts to two Vikings players, full back/fly half Tom Howlett and Irish lock JJ Odea.

With the sun shining on a firm pitch, a fast and loose game was always likely. Callum Grieve led out the Richmond team in recognition of his 50th club cap. The Blues showed their intent after just four minutes. Centre Toby Thame, a regular Northampton squad member, burst through the centre, bouncing off a tackle to find space before running round Callum Grieve for a strong individual try. Will Maisey added the first of six conversions.

It was hardly the ideal start, but Richmond countered quickly. They followed up a well struck kick off ball with aggression, reclaiming possession to set up five metres out. Hooker Harry Hocking got the touchdown and the ever reliable Grieve added the conversion to level the scores.

Grieve was busy minutes later, chipping inventively with the outside of the boot to find space and offload to Freddie Charles. However, the scrum half was just caught, and Richmond lost possession. Too often Richmond created opportunities but could not quite turn them into points.

By contrast, Bedford were relentless and completed their next three tries in the following 22 minutes. The first try, scored by George Worth, had a touch of good fortune about it when a kick ahead bounced high to evade well placed Richmond hands and send the full black clear. For the next try, Richmond were penned back in their 22 and conceded a scrum for a knock on. Bedford made it look easy, quick hands drawing in defenders before a long pass over the head of Chid Obonna allowed Dean Adamson the first try of his hat trick, taking him over 170 career tries for his club. Fyn Brown was next on the Bedford scoring sheet, completing a forward drive from a line out ten metres out.

Richmond were still creating chances but making rushed decisions. When Lima Savaiinaea was smartly worked through a gap into the 22, a kick ahead was not the right option. Just before half time, prop Joey Conway touched down in the corner for the fifth try, after fellow forwards Aiden Ainsworth-Cave and Fin Brown had worked well to create some space.

The second half did not start well for Richmond, with three penalties conceded in quick succession. After the third, Alex Day tapped and ran ten metres for the touchdown, scored before Richmond’s defence had reset. 7-38 behind, Richmond now needed to raise their game and they certainly did.

With the game remaining fast and furious, Richmond claimed their second try after 48 minutes. Obonna got the ball on the wide right and ran straight and hard through several defenders before turning inside as he looked for support. Richmond stayed patient in the Bedford 22 and their man of the match Freddie Hosking, in his best game back after injury, gained another ten metres. Awarded a penalty, Richmond drove from a five metre line out and the energetic Hocking got his second try.

It was only two minutes before the Blues responded with a beautifully set up try. Fly half Will Maisey sent a steepling kick up high and Dean Adamson plucked it out of the air at full pace and eased his way clear from thirty-five metres.

Richmond were now firmly fixed on the challenge of winning a bonus point. Two more tries were needed. The first followed after fifty-seven minutes when George Nugent stretched over as Richmond ran a tap penalty.

With the substitutes on, the pace of the game remained unrelenting. Richmond tried desperately to pierce the Bedford defence with Savaiinaea always willing to hurl his body into collisions. But Richmond’s progress tended to be too lateral, and the alert Adamson took inevitable advantage with his third try after another Richmond pass went behind the support player.

With the game entering its last ten minutes and the action centred deep in the Richmond half, that bonus point looked a tough ask. However, Richmond now defied the odds and showcased their spirit and resilience . First, they cleared a Bedford attack close to their line and then they mounted an attack from 22 to 22, started by Jared Cardew and then involving a multitude of players. Bedford held out at the cost of a yellow card and then, after three more penalties, conceded a second yellow card.

Richmond took full advantage. Hosking ensured line out possession and, with the crowd firmly behind them, Will Goffey got the touchdown, as most of the team heaved forward over the line.

Mission achieved, but Richmond were now full of confidence. In the last action of the game, Cardew and Ronnie Du Randt somehow found the energy to breach the defence, before the ball was moved down the line. Sam Dardis threaded through a grubber to the corner and there, somehow, was the immense Lima Savalinaea to get the touch down. To end the afternoon perfectly, fifty cap Grieve then added an excellent conversion.

Head Coach Rob Powell commented: ‘It was really important to get a point today. Throughout the season we’ve often got three tries and not the fourth or lost a game we should have won.

We always knew how much of a handful Bedford were going to be and, if we found we couldn’t win, we thought a point would be a good result. It nudges us a further point ahead of Scottish and we want to make sure we get that home semi-final.

I thought we had a really impressive second half and kept on fighting. We just need to be more clinical and focussed. It’s alright coming back for the fourth try but if we play with that lack of concentration in the play-off game, it’s going to be a really difficult match. We will have to be a bit better than we were today”.

Team: C.Grieve, C.Obonna, J.Langston, T.Savainaea, R.Du Randt, J.Baggott, F.Charles, T.Bevacqua, H.Hocking, L.Spring, F.Hosking, G.Nugent, J.Monson, A.Hastings, S.Pim
Subs: W.Goffey, C.Freeman, T.Gibson, JJ.Odea, J.Cardew, C,Gallen, T.Howlett, S.Dardis,

Tries: Hocking (2), Nugent, Goffey, Savaiinaea.
Conversion: Grieve (4)