Richmond bounce back in style (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Richmond boucne back in style

1:00pm Monday 14th November 2011 in Richmond RFC

Richmond bounced back from their first defeat of the season to claim five points with six tries against Cornish visitors Launceston.

Their eleventh league win of the season leaves them still four points clear of Worthing and now eight points clear of third placed Hartpury College.

It was a convincing victory and could have been greater but for an unusual number of handling errors.

However, first time visitors Launceston deserve credit for providing determined and abrasive competition throughout the game.

Richmond showed eight changes from the Worthing game, four in the forwards and four in the backs.

Among the newcomers Duncan Peters, ex Gloucester Academy, made his debut on the wing and Tom Platt started his first league game at fly half.

In the absence of the resting Tom George, Chris Davies took over the captaincy.

The home side started strongly against the Cornish All Blacks despite losing an early line out.

In the scrums, the Richmond eight were soon putting their opponents under heavy pressure and play was therefore centred in the Launceston 22.

After eight minutes, Platt and Sandy Reid worked a fine scissors to send the centre side stepping through the defence before Harry Edwards stretched over the try line.

Called back for a scrum by referee Paul Knowles, the home eight simply redoubled efforts and Edwards broke well from the scrum to find a half gap before flinging a scoring pass to Juliano Fiori, who was well positioned on his shoulder.

Seven minutes later, the home side extended their lead by seven points.

Once again, the scrum was the start point with the Cornish eight penalised.

Tom Gregory kicked towards the corner and Chris Davies won the ball well, tapping down to Jason Phipps who provided the impetus.

Smart sleight of hand moved the ball quickly through more hands before Platt powered over at the posts for a very well worked second try.

Richmond continued to dominate in both possession and territory but handling mistakes and good work by Launceston at the line out spoiled some promising situations and allowed the visitors to get into the game.

A quick tap from the 22 by Tom Gregory set Peters on a good run but the support was too slow and the danger was cleared.

And then, in the ten minutes before half time, the Cornish side scored twice.

Both scores stemmed from penalties for not releasing, the first being a try by hooker Jamie Salter, after his pack drove over in the corner, and the second a well struck kick by Kieron Lewitt to take the score to 12-8.

Just as it looked as if Richmond would have little to show at half time for their clear superiority, they added a third try.

A back row drive saw Fiori and Edwards make good ground to claim another penalty.

Richmond took a tap ball quickly and, when the first attack was stopped just short of the line, Jamie Thompson was on hand, like any good openside flanker, to pick up and drive over.

Platt added the conversion for a 19-8 half time lead.

It took only one minute for the league leaders to claim the fourth try for their bonus point.

Richmond recycled well from the kick off and worked quick ball out to the left for Chesters to burst through at pace.

Hemmed in on the touchline, the full back beautifully judged a kick ahead with the outside of the boot and Johnny Wehbe was well up to reach the ball first and claim his sixth try of the season.

When Richmond mounted a strong attack three minutes later, the next try seemed certain but Launceston won turnover ball in their 22 and set winger Aran Struminski free down the left touchline to evade the stretched home defence and run seventy metres for a very good try.

Minutes later Wehbe limped off to be replaced by James Brooks, Platt moving to blindside winger and it only took a minute before Brooks scored the next try. Charging down a clearance with Tom Gregory, Brooks was first to follow up to touch down the ricochet.

In the following fifteen minutes, Brooks demonstrated a fine array of skills, kicking beautifully, running powerfully and setting up the sixth try.

Richmond attacked well from a five metre scrum and Brooks was very nearly over before Toby Henry dummied well to dive over, the converted try taking the score to 38-15 with twenty minutes to go.

Substitute Brooks remained the danger man and he looked clear from an interception but was called back by the referee.

When Brooks booted the ball away in disappointment, he was promptly given a yellow card for his troubles. Mr Knowles was doubtless technically right but it seemed a very severe punishment.

With the home side reduced to fourteen men, the Cornish All Blacks pressed for a third try but the home defence held out well and the game ended quietly with Richmond happy to take five more points after a hard fought game.

Prop Timmy Walford was adjudged Richmond’s man of the match after another fine performance by the pack.