After a stuttering start to the season, Richmond burst into life in the second half of their visit to College Way with a five try demolition of their West Country hosts, writes Tim Forrester.

It was a fine team performance, both in attack and defence, and should provide a real boost to confidence.

There was no indication of the final result in the combative first half as Richmond played into a strong wind.

Despite an early penalty by Matt Hart (who went on to score twenty-four points), Bridgwater increasingly dominated both possession and territory.

After eleven minutes Stuart Evans kicked them level as Richmond were penalised for holding on, as they vainly tried to escape their 22.

The Bridgwater pressure did not relent in the first half hour and it was a surprise that they did not add to their score in this period.

However a penalty chance was missed and Richmond stoutly held out on their line against a barrage of drives from the home forwards.

Home scrum half Matt Britton made a number of fine breaks too, constantly dragging in a number of Richmond defenders before he was pulled down.

On the half hour, a Bridgwater kick, propelled by the wind, eluded the Richmond defence, requiring Matt Hart under pressure to scramble the ball down behind his own line.

However, from this point, Richmond gradually started to assert more control.

The busy Kris Green made a trademark break, ducking under tackles and setting up a momentum which got Richmond on the front foot.

The Richmond scrum were also beginning to squeeze the opposition and create a good platform. It was from a set scrum that Richmond forced a Bridgwater infringement in the 33rd minute and Matt Hart stroked over the penalty to give Richmond a rather unlikely lead of 3-6 which was the half time score.

The second half was a complete turnaround as Richmond used the wind to full effect and confidence steadily built.

New centre Joe Brown provided the initial inspiration.

A Bridgwater attack again broke down against the disciplined Richmond defence and Tom Gregory alertly flicked the ball out to his centre partner in space over forty metres out.

Brown demonstrated eye catching acceleration as he set off for the try line, cutting in to elude the defence and score under the posts.

Matt Hart, who kicked faultlessly, added the conversion and the lead was now 3-13.

Following good work by Iain Buzza, Hart added a third penalty five minutes later and then a penalty try followed after seventeen minutes.

Andy Saunders, playing on the right wing, twice hacked a loose ball ahead and looked certain to score as the ball bounced over the line.

However Saunders appeared to be running through treacle as a Bridgwater defender clung to him (without the ball) to prevent the final dive over the line.

Referee Nick Ashton pointed to the posts and nobody disputed the penalty try.

Richmond were now in full control, the forwards, especially the hard working second row, running hard and straight and setting up good ball for the Richmond backs to show their paces.

The third try came in the twenty-eighth minute with Alistair Simmie setting up the initial movement, following another huge kick by Gregory.

The opening was beautifully finished by Luke Cousins as he shimmied over under the posts.

Bridgwater still had periods of attacking pressure but the Richmond defence remained resolutely determined and disciplined, despite the loss of Danny Parkinson who was yellow carded.

And, just when supporters might have been regretting that a bonus point was now just out of reach, along came two more tries just like the proverbial buses (but rather quicker).

After 35 minutes, substitute Toby Henry ran wide from set possession to set up Matt Hart on the angle to run in the crucial fourth try.

And finally, in the second minute of injury time, Richmond ran the ball out of their 22 with Matt Hart the extra man in the line.

Winger Simmie received the ball sixty metres out and burst down the touchline to outpace the home full back and finish the game with a memorable fifth try and the healthy score line of 3-44.

Next week, Richmond entertain Rosslyn Park, local rivals and one of the front runners in National Two South. Kick off at the Athletic Ground is 3pm.

Tries: T.Brown, Penalty try, Cousins, M.Hart, Simmie

Conversions: M.Hart(5)

Penalties: M.Hart(3)

Team: M.Hart, A.Saunders (D.West), T.Gregory, J.Brown, A.Simmie, L.Cousins, K.Green (T.Henry), D.Parkinson, D.Burr (J.Clapson), T.Nutall ( E.Atkinson), J.Farmer, T.Wesley, G.Hart, I.Buzza, T.George (A.Wheatley).