Having been 14-35 down to Lydney with twenty minutes to go, Richmond will take some pleasure from a final score of 35-35 and three points, which take them back to the top of the National Two league. Despite the admirable comeback, it was a very mixed performance, with far too many errors throughout the game.

Only Richmond’s superior fitness and the quality of their substitutes really got them back into the game.

There were two changes from the previous week, Tom Drewe replacing Toby Henry at scrum half and skipper Tom George returning on the blindside.

Previous trips to Lydney have involved floods and frosts but on this occasion it was a dry day though the pitch was heavy underfoot.

Lydney started well and the opening play was based in the visitors’ 22, an early home penalty slipping by. However Richmond looked more dangerous, ball in hand, and opened up at every opportunity.

A quickly taken 22 sent Duncan Peters into space and he took his side into the opposition half.

Richmond worked the ball out to the right and when Danny Parkinson went to ground, quick ball enabled Juliano Fiori to give Will Browne a run at the Lydney defence.

With a lot still to do, Browne powered through two tacklers before handing off a third to accelerate away for a good try, converted by Tom Platt.

Perhaps Richmond thought that it would now be easy.

If so, Lydney had other ideas and responded with a strong attack through their forwards after Richmond lost the kick off ball in the strong sun.

Richmond defended resolutely and appeared to have cleared the danger when awarded the set scrum.

However, not for the only time, they were then penalised for crossing and the Lydney centre Alan Bryan slipped the tackle from the next play to send Chris Holder in for an equalising try, converted by Tony Wicks.

Playing at a helter skelter pace, Richmond played some good build up rugby but the decision making was sometimes at fault, with players holding on to the ball too long or throwing over ambitious passes.

However, after nineteen minutes, the second try was scored by Fiori from a five metre line out.

Platt safely added the conversion for a 7-14 lead.

The next half hour of rugby make ugly reading for Richmond followers.

Lydney scored three tries in quick succession in the last fifteen minutes of the first half.

The first by full back Wicks followed another Richmond knock on, Lydney’s Will Jones breaking through from the resultant scrum.

The second was slightly unfortunate, an attacking kick ahead by Tom Chesters rebounding off a Lydney defender to set Bryan free from the half way line.

And the third try was simply very good play by the backs, winger Will Kane passing the ball back inside to Wicks as the cover defence was drawn into the tackle.

Richmond needed a good second half start and Browne did his best with a wonderful catch from the kick off.

A five metre line out promised much but the Richmond line out call went amiss and the opportunity was lost.

Things then got a whole lot worse when a long attacking pass missed everybody and the Lydney winger Kane simply had to pick up the loose ball and outpace the Richmond front row from forty metres.

Losing 35-14, Richmond now looked out of the game but they dug deep and dragged themselves back into the game.

Substitute Afi Okeshola made a rumbustious impact on arrival and James Brooks quickly had the backs moving more purposefully.

Richmond were now in clear territorial control though the errors could not be eliminated.

Chris Davies, one of two outstanding locks, appeared to have reduced the deficit but was recalled for more crossing.

There was only twenty minutes to go when another substitute Jamie Thompson finally went over from a driving maul by the forwards.

Platt’s conversion kicks were now all important and he made no mistake.

With Brooks prompting and his pack now rampant, a tired Lydney side gave away a string of penalties and ran out of substitutes.

Fiori claimed a deserved second try from another line out drive and, with less than five minutes to go, Brooks found a gap in the home defence and a succession of quick passes set winger Browne clear on the right.

A nerveless Platt nailed both conversions and the score was 35-35.

Richmond had chances to steal a famous victory, especially when they set up another five metre line out.

But they lost their throw in ball and were then penalised for holding on.

In the last minute, disaster threatened when the visitors were penalised for coming round the side at a scrum but the penalty kick went mercifully wide and both sides had to settle for a five try draw.

News of Worthing’s defeat to the Albanians gave further value to a gutsy Richmond comeback in the formidable Forest of Dean.