Richmond 26 Worcester Warriors 45

Courtesy of a harsh fixture list, Richmond followed their tough trip away to Ealing last week with a visit from champions Worcester Warriors. For 65 minutes, Richmond again matched their full time opponents, try for try, but again the last ten minutes were cruel as three late tries exaggerated the difference between the two sides.

Right at the end, Richmond got tantalisingly close to a fifth try which would have earned then a deserved point, but, instead, Worcester held out on their own line and then completed a length of the field try which earned them a bonus point for being three tries ahead. It can be a cruel game . Nevertheless, Richmond can take great satisfaction from a performance which was full of heart but additionally full of quality.

In a weekend full of activity, from the well supported Heavies Foundation Fundraising Lunch to a Ladies Day celebration, two favourite Richmond players celebrated their 100th caps. Lewis Dennett and Jake Monson led out a team largely familiar in the forwards but shawn of several familiar names in the backs. On the bench, there was a debut for hooker Ben Wright, who joined the club from Newcastle University.

Worcester had a lot of seasoned Premiership players in their line-up, including internationals Matt Kvesic, Lloyd Williams and Billy Twelvetrees.

Richmond kicked off on a decent autumn day in front of a crowd over 1,800. They were quickly forced back into defensive mode when winger Tom Seabrook blasted his way through the centre, but Richmond managed to scramble player and ball into touch. A line out and free kick followed to maintain the pressure, but Richmond determinedly held out.

Matt Marsh, who had another fine game, hoisted a box kick , knocked on by Worcester and it was Richmond’s turn to attack. From the set scrum, Callum Grieve kicked though to the corner, the bounce of the ball only just proving evasive. However, Richmond had the scrum five metres out and, when the ball was spread, it was appropriately Monson who timed his run perfectly to touch down for the opening try after just seven minutes.

Equally appropriately, Lewis Dennett marked his 100th cap with a top notch display, including the first of two 50/22 kicks which set up his team deep in the Worcester 22. Frustratingly, Richmond could not claim the line out ball under pressure from the experienced Worcester locks James Tyas and Tom Savage, both over six feet four.

However, in the seventeenth minute, Richmond were awarded a penalty when Worcester came over the top at the breakdown. From the line out, Will Goffey made good ground into the 22 before Jake Cardew moved the ball out to the backs where Dennett and then centre Tom Riman sent speeding winger Greg Kitson sprinting in to the corner. Grieve converted well and Richmond led 14-0.

A determined Worcester then upped their game at scrum and line out to pressure Richmond into small errors. Eventually, full back Louis Brown kicked deep, forcing Grieve into a hurried clearance. From the line out Worcester moved the ball down the line at pace before Juan Gonzales sent Alfie Garside clear to the corner.

Richmond responded with a further period around the opposition 22 and had chances close to the line. They stayed patient but, trying to move the ball in tight space, lost possession to James Cherry. The No 8 had sufficient pace to reach half way but, with the cover catching him, threw a well judged pass to scrum half Will Lane who coasted home for another maddening interception try. At half time the score was 14-14, which was a fair reflection of the first forty minutes.

If Worcester were frustrated by the first half, they were further caught out in the opening minutes of the second half. The Richmond forwards were up fast following up the kick off and managed to turn over possession. Paddy Case and Grieve made further progress before Dennett slipped a lovely kick into space at the corner. Archie Brosch claimed the ball first and he in turn slipped a neat pass to the supporting Tom Riman, who was on his shoulder. The centre scored his first club try and Richmond led 19-14.

Somewhat rattled by Richmond’s persistence, Worcester now rang the changes, bringing on six bench players. The new players included Welsh international Lloyd Williams, and the scrum half made an immediate impact when his well judged box kick resulted in a penalty. From the line out, the big pack drove forward at pace with Hallam Chapman at the back to claim the try. With both sides missing a conversion, the score remained locked, this time 19-19.

At 58 minutes, Eric Nixon replaced the injured Theo Bevaqua and made impact at the next set scrum, the pack earning a precious scrum penalty. From 20 metres the pack drove forward but were held at the cost of another penalty. Again, Richmond set up for the drive but, when stopped, they could not retrieve the ball from Worcester’s clutches.

The Warriors now really opened up and found a rare gap in the home defence when the rapid Seabrook, an experienced Prem player, broke at pace before throwing a well judged pass to Garside for his second try. The Worcester backs looked full of running and Richmond were at full stretch in defence. After four more minutes, Garside completed his hat trick, substitute Siva Naulago the instigator, sending Garside on a weaving run to the line.

Worcester now looked full of confidence despite another probing 50/22 by Dennett. In the 74th minute, full back Brown made a fine break, and this time found Gonzales in perfect position to touch down for a now cruel 19-38 scoreline. However, Richmond kept battling and deserved the next try scored by the excellent Iwan Coyle who stretched over under the posts. There was so nearly another home try a minute later when skipper Chase determinedly pursued a kick ahead only to be caught and isolated at the corner, a metre short.

Richmond’s bonus point was not to be, but Worcester were determined to get theirs. Needing to be three tries ahead under the new scoring system, the Warriors used a quick tap penalty to work their way up field. Richmond never stopped tackling, but Worcester had the skill, discipline and fitness to keep going and, admirably, it was hooker Austin Wallis in perfect place at the end to complete the move and claim the bonus point touch down.

Rob Powell commented afterwards: ‘ We gave Worcester a good old game this week and that’s what we aspire to. The last two weeks, we’ve mixed it well with the top two teams. At 19-19, today we were right in the game and at that point we have to be able to find a way to make sure we are not the ones to break. We nearly got a bonus point at the end, but instead they went a hundred metres to get theirs. Nevertheless, keep playing like this and we will be in a good position this season’.

Team: C. Grieve, A.Brosch, P.Case, T.Riman, G.Kitson, L.Dennett, M.Marsh, T.Bevaqua, W,Goffey, L. Spring, C. Bell, F.Hosking, Monson, I.Coyle, J.Cardew
Subs B.Wright, E.Nixon, JB.Vaughan, F.Dick,M.Wakeling, F.Charles, J.Baggott, S.Dardis

Tries: Monson, Kitson, Riman, Coyle
Conversions: Grieve (3)