Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill has warned his players only performances against National Division Two South’s top teams count.

Hill’s men ran in a cricket score as they thrashed former second-tier outfit Newbury Blues 81-13 at the weekend to secure their first win of the campaign at the fourth time of asking.

Richmond have been edged out by Ealing and Taunton in recent weeks, and Hill insists they must now repeat the form of the weekend on a regular basis.

“We played some excellent rugby. They weren’t the strongest opposition we’ll play this year, but we played for the full 80 minutes, “ he said.

“Sometimes when you are leading by a big score at half-time teams start to play sevens and lose their way, but we showed discipline and a great desire to not let that happen.

“We’ve now got to put in the same level of performance because we know there are stronger tests to come.”

A Nick Barrett hat-trick on debut plus scores from Guy Thompson (2), Chris Davies (2), Euan Sadden, Toby Henry, Ross Broadfoot, Peter Clarke, Tristan Wesley and Darryl Marfo saw Richmond cross 13 times on Saturday.

And Hill reckons winger Sadden, playing in the centres for the first time, played a key part in the romp.

“Moving Euan into the middle gave us a more direct approach. We found it easier to attack off his breaks than in previous weeks” he added.

Richmond host struggling Clifton on Saturday and Hill is wary of a different challenge as his side look to avenge last season’s brace of defeats to the Bristol outfit.

“They have a lot of very experienced players and will represent a tough test,” he said.

“The boys will have a lot confidence from the weekend and are getting used to playing with each other, so I’m happy to pick a pretty much unchanged side.

“I’m sure they are pretty excited about taking the first opportunity to put one over a side that beat us twice last year.”

Richmond’s next three games: Oct 2 Clifton (h), 9 Westcombe Park (a), 16 Jersey (h).