Richmond are now earning the bonus points that their performances deserve according to flanker Jesse Liston.

Following their 38-32 loss at Ealing on Saturday Liston believes the club have finally found a way to get the extra points that will make the difference in a very tight-run Championship.

Pointless defeats by Yorkshire, Doncaster and Cornish left the west London outfit sitting lowly in the table despite impressive performances, but following successive wins and two bonus points at Ealing, Liston believes they have turned the corner as they climb the table.

“It’s been up and down and slightly disappointing season in truth,” said the former London Welsh man.

“The start of the season we’ve played well and had nothing to show for it, no wins or losing bonus points, but the last few weeks we’ve turned up with structure and turned it in to league points. It sets a precedence across the league and says we are by no means to be taken lightly.

“There’s only a few points difference in the middle of the table. But if we knuckle down we’ll be in a good position when the league starts again near Christmas after the cup games.”

Looking ahead to Nottingham’s visit Liston hopes to take the positives from their defeat at league pacesetters Ealing to the Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just need to put our structure back in place and play with more pace.”

Liston, who will soon be opening the ‘Tipi Coffee House’ in Wandsworth said despite the fact that Richmond are the only non-professional team in the league, they can still aim high.

“We did very well against a top side, we are a part-time group and looking at the scoreboard there’s not much in it.

“That said it was by no means a good performance from us, it was a good comeback having been 21-0 down but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb with some unforced errors. So we can get better.”

Liston left the field against Ealing with concussion but hopes to be pass the return to play protocols to be available for Saturday match.

“Nottingham are always a hard team, they’re never afraid to throw the ball around but they are by no means unbeatable. If we’re able to take away what they do and play with the ball ourselves, dominate in contact areas I think we’ll do well.”