Richmond end Shelford's winning run

Richmond took a giant step towards promotion by ending Shelford's 10-match winning run on Saturday, writes Tim Forrester.

After their feast of tries against Thanet, Richmond knew they would face a much more combative physical challenge from a Shelford side with a strong Southern Hemisphere contingent and recently reinforced by Cambridge Blue Dafydd Lewis.

Shelford kicked off into a strong, swirling wind and both sides struggled with their kicking in the opening fifteen minutes as they adjusted to the conditions.

However Shelford took the early honours and deserved their opening try. Given a penalty for offside Shelford found touch deep in the Richmond 22.

Securing their own line out ball the pack picked and drove but appeared to be held by the home forwards. However one of the big Shelford locks, probably Mills, spotted a hole in the defence and drove through the gap for an unconverted try.

Richmond responded quickly. The Shelford full back kicked into touch from outside his 22 allowing Richmond a line out on the 22. Shelford resisted the resultant attack but at the cost of a penalty for offside, converted by Matt Hart.

Now only two points behind, Richmond started to establish better control and Neil Piggot was unlucky when taken out late following a neat kick ahead.

After 25 minutes, Richmond finally went ahead with a well worked try when winger Piggot took a lovely inside pass from fly half Sean Flynn to burst through under the posts. Hart converted to take the score to 10-5.

There were no more scores before half time as proceedings grew increasingly fractious. Shelford managed to slow Richmond's ball and the home side gained limited advantage from the strong wind.

Changing ends, Shelford must have believed they were in a strong position when fly half Thomas Dann converted an early penalty to reduce Richmond's lead to just two points.

Therefore the next score was vital in the momentum of the game and it was scored by James Bucknall, playing a storming game at open side. Bucknall used his full height to charge down the Shelford full back's clearance kick and kept his head well to regain the ball and touch down.

Thereafter Richmond played some of their best rugby of the season despite playing against the strong wind. The forwards achieved more and more domination of both line outs and scrums and the rolling mauls gained yards every time. Pinned into their 22 Shelford only escaped with an occasional hefty boot. Otherwise Richmond pressed forward relentlessly as they upped the pace of the game.

Two more tries were scored and they were both the result of high skill. For the first Tom Gregory burst down the right touchline, cutting inside the defence and staying on his feet long enough to pass to the excellent Richmond support. Owen Gregory, Laithwaite's man of the match, was first up and nothing was going to stop him driving and twisting over for a wonderful try.

Richmond threatened time and again to add to their score. Both Tom Drewe and Tim Cook were stopped just short of the line. But Richmond were not to be denied and the final score was justly created by Flynn, who stood in admirably for the absent Luke Cousins. A deftly delayed inside pass found Matt Hart cutting inside the Shelford defence and having the time to celebrate a successful training ground move before diving over. The Shelford defence, nearly out on their feet, did not get near him.

A thoroughly successful performance was enhanced by news of Worthing's defeat to Hertford. Richmond therefore lead the table by six points but know no-one can relax until all league games are completed. Next Saturday (kick off provisionally set for 2.15) the first XV visit Effingham & Leatherhead for a Surrey Cup quarter final.

Richmond: M.Hart, N.Piggot(T.Cook), A.Maclennan, T.Gregory , K.Bingham, S.Flynn, T.Drewe, O.Gregory, E.Rosa(M.Bolton), R.Allhusen(T.Nutall), T.Wesley, H.Head, J.Bucknall, T.George, A.Wheatley.