Richmond 17 Ealing 32

Richmond have not always produced their best form against Ealing though last season they ran them very close at the Athletic Ground.

There were additional reports that big spending Ealing had severely cut their playing budget and, since this was the visitors’ first league game of the season, Richmond started with high hopes of a good result.

The first half can be divided into two distinct periods.

For the first quarter of an hour Richmond barely laid hands on the ball as Ealing dominated possession and controlled the game.

After two minutes, Ealing full back Hodgkinson opened the scoring with a penalty, as Richmond went offside at a ruck.

Ironically, despite Ealing’s complete domination at this stage, the next score came from Richmond as they broke quickly out of their well organized defence.

Scrum half Toby Henry, one of three debutants, intelligently kicked the ball upfield where it was collected by the Ealing full back. Under pressure from three chasers Hodgkinson lost possession and a quick pass gave Luke Cousins space to accelerate well for the line and a 7-3 lead, following Matt Hart’s conversion.

This lead was held for just three minutes before the visitors got their first try. Going blind, Ealing created a big overlap for a try in the corner, though the scoring pass to Luke Chesters looked well forward from the stands.

The next period of play was dominated by the Richmond forwards. Initial pressure was created from another wonderful Matt Hart touchfinder which set Richmond up five metres from the Ealing line.

Defending a succession of drives and mauls, Ealing transgressed and lock Ryan Gregory was yellow carded for killing the ball. Predictably the Richmond eight drove forward again and a mass of bodies collapsed just short of the try line.

The distinction between collapsing a maul and simply falling over can get blurred. Nevertheless Richmond maintained concentration well and, when the ball was moved out, Cousins and new boy Joe Brown enacted a well constructed move in which Brown ran a good line inside Cousins for his first try in an impressive debut game.

Matt Hart converted for a 14-10 lead, with Ealing now down to fourteen men for another eight minutes.

The Richmond forwards looked well in control at this stage as they pitched camp in the Ealing 22 and drove continuously for the line. Ealing were forced into some desperate defence and must have been relieved to concede a penalty under the posts rather than the try which had looked inevitable.

The half time score was 17-10, Ealing missing a late penalty chance. For the second week Richmond appeared to be well in control, half way through the game.

Unfortunately the second half was a different story as Ealing upped the pace and used their greater experience, especially in the key positions, to force Richmond mistakes.

Further handicapped by their predilection to give away unnecessary penalties, Richmond found themselves on the back foot though their first time defence was sound and they had promising moments in attack before basic errors cost them dear.

For 23 minutes Richmond held out as Ealing missed several further kickable penalties.

To their credit, Ealing did not panic and Ward, their experienced playmaker, ensured that they continually probed and tested the home defence.

Richmond appeared to have weathered another storm and denied Ealing yet again when they reclaimed possession and ran the ball out of their 22. Unfortunately an over ambitious pass gave the hard won possession back to Ealing, who immediately broke back down the far touchline for a straightforward Hodgkinson try and conversion and a 17-17 scoreline.

Three minutes later Richmond completed their self destruction. Having set up a promising attack in the Ealing 22 the ball was passed down the line and another loose pass went astray, enabling Ealing to fly kick clear. Richmond were woefully slow to turn and an obliging bounce left Phil Chesters clear for an easy try from 50 metres converted by Ward for a heartbreaking 17-24 score.

The last fifteen minutes merely heaped more woe on the unfortunate Richmond side as they leaked more and more penalties and were forced into long periods of defence.

The fourth Ealing try was a strange one, the ball appearing to be deliberately knocked forward by an Ealing player, who may well have been offside anyway.

Nevertheless referee Simmon McConnel waved his arm to indicate that he saw no problem and Ealing celebrated their fifth league point as a bemused Richmond defence trudged back for the unsuccessful conversion.

One more penalty by Ward just before the final whistle just added insult to injury.

Richmond can feel slightly hard done by on the day and the final score does not reflect the full game.

They did not play badly against experienced and capable opponents.

However Richmond must reduce their penalty count and improve the decision making at critical moments.

Next week, Richmond visit Bridgwater, where they will be keen to reverse last year’s league defeat. Kick off is 3pm.

Tries: Cousins, Brown Conversions: M.Hart (2) Penalties: M.Hart Team: M.Hart, J.Wehbe, T.Gregory, J.Brown, A.Saunders, L.Cousins (A.Simmie), T.Henry (K.Green), D.Parkinson, E.Rosa (D.Burr), A.Lyon (T.Nutall), J.Farmer, H.Head (c), , G.Hart, T.George, J.Downey (T.Wesley).