Richmond put on a gritty, defiant performance, to push a much fancied fully professional Trailfinders side all the way. The final scoreboard certainly does not do justice to Richmond’s spirit and the quality of their rugby, both of which should provide great heart for the next run of fixtures.

Richmond named a side with five changes to the starting fifteen. Freddie Hosking and Chidera Obonna were again available, whilst three players Barnaby Vaughan, Miles Wakeling and Iwan Coyle earned selection after fine performances in the Vikings’ 90-5 win over Ampthill’s second team.

Unusually, this fixture was played on a Sunday afternoon with a 2pm kick off. There was a modest crowd, and it took a while to liven them up. The rain held off during the game but there was a strong wind which mostly favoured Trailfinders in the first half.

Richmond have had some torrid results against Ealing and have often conceded very early morale sapping scores. Not on this occasion. Richmond’s intent was obvious from the opening whistle, and they nearly scored a try in the opening two minutes. Only an unpredictable bounce of the ball prevented the touch down.

Iwan Coyle, making his Richmond debut, was in the action early on, leading the way in a turnover which earned a first penalty. Ealing fielded a huge pack and the first sight of their three locks highlighted that the line out was going to be a tricky battleground. In the event, after a difficult first half, Richmond improved their share of line out ball as the game proceeded. Charlie Bell in particular competed well and had a fine game overall.

Ealing were keen to open up at every opportunity, but the Richmond line speed and the force of their tackling knocked Ealing back time and again. There was therefore some frustration when an Ealing back line move appeared to have been stalled only for centre Francis Moore to slip off several tackles and run around for the opening try in the 12th minute.

There was an early injury blow when Obonna, who missed the Ampthill game, was forced off, resulting in Tom Riman making a testing but very successful debut in the centre, as Paddy Case moved to the wing.

Case was soon called into action in his less familiar position, doing really well to turn and catch winger Toby Cousins, who looked clean away. Jason Baggott, who formed a good half back pairing with Matt Marsh, then put in a lovely line kick which looked like a 50/22 but was adjudged inches short. Scrum half Matt Marsh was outstanding all game, physically strong in defence and attack and mixing his game really well.

After 26 minutes, Ealing got a second try. Awarded a penalty at the scrum, a good line kick set them up in the 22. The Richmond defence held out phase after phase but finally one of their hefty props, Kyle Wight, made a half break and, when the ball was moved wide, winger Cousins finally got his try, which was converted to take the score to 12-0.

Richmond needed to hold their nerve and maintain the intensity. They did. Riman made a good steal in the tackle and Marsh was in place at the corner to knock a would-be try scorer into touch. Richmond seemed to have more energy about them than their opponents and they fully deserved the next try which followed in the 33rd minute. It was inevitably Marsh again, this time with a neat chip to the corner, to find Case in perfect position to judge the bounce accurately and get the touchdown. The conversion kick was into the wind and just faded wide.

Leading by just 12-5, Ealing’s crowd were getting rattled. However, with two minutes of the half left, Ealing extended their lead. Following up the kick off to great effect, they extracted a penalty from referee Jonathan Cook as Richmond held on to possession. Despite committed defence, the try seemed inevitable and was scored wide out by hooker Mike Willemse, with the conversion by fly half James Humphreys.

17-5 down at half time, Richmond re-started with extra vigour. A neat line out move between Charlie Bell and Jared Cardew so nearly drew a try, but the No 8 was just forced into touch. Richmond stayed on attack and then earned a five metre scrum. Ealing used their extra weight to apply full pressure, and Marsh had to scrabble to get the ball away. Spectators agreed that he nudged the ball backwards in the process, but the referee saw otherwise and called a knock on. When Richmond protested they conceded a penalty. Never argue with a referee.

Five minutes later, they did get their reward. The pack earned a scrum penalty, probably rattling a distracted Ealing with their celebrations. After some brief ‘handbags’, Marsh saw the opportunity and tapped and ran, soon finding himself clear in empty space. Rather isolated from support, he stayed patient and the ball was soon skilfully worked back across the field for James Langston to send Sam Reynolds clear for his first club try. The tricky conversion provided further encouragement, with the score now 17-12.

Within three minutes, Ealing had restored their lead. The try was a frustrating one for Richmond followers as the long pass which set it up was clearly forward. But credit to winger Deago Bailey who took full advantage, beating a trio of defenders with some beautifully balanced running to score a fine solo try converted by Humphreys.

By now Langston, excellent again, had left the pitch with his leg strapped. Lewis Dennett came on at fly half with Baggott moving to the centre. Both sides emptied their benches.

Richmond came under increasing pressure at the set scrum but kept pressing with their defensive line and forcing errors. It was still anyone’s game, especially if Richmond could force their way over from the five metre penalties they earned. The experienced Ealing pack held out time and again but finally, in the 67th minute, Harry Hocking was the man to score, as the pack mauled their way over, joined by some of the backs.

With the score 24-19, Richmond had a chance. But it was not to be. With the crowd now nervous and baying for a turnround, it was a testing time for the officials. Hocking got a yellow card as pressure mounted. In the last five minutes, Ealing added two rather cruel tries, first from hooker Matt Cornish, with the conversion going over off the post and then, for the bonus point, Finn Brown. Ealing are a tough side who may well again win the league title. But Richmond should be proud that, for long stretches of this game, they really rattled them.

Head coach Rob Powell said after the game: ‘That was an outstanding effort. In the years that we’ve been playing Ealing, that’s about as good as it’s been. I thought we matched then in most areas, and, given some different decisions, it could have been better still. To push a squad of that quality is really impressive and we need to make sure we keep turning up with that sort of mentality’.

Starters: C.Grieve, C.Obonna, P.Case, J.Langston, S.Reynolds, J.Baggott, M.Marsh, T.Bevacqua, W.Goffey, L.Spring, C.Bell, F.Hosking, M.Wakeling, Coyle, J.Cardew

Replacements: H.Hocking, E.Nixon, B.Vaughan, H.Culverhouse, F.Dick, M.Marsh, L.Dennett, T.Riman

Tries: Case, Reynolds, Hocking
Conversions: Grieve (2)