ROSSLYN PARK 19-21 RICHMOND

SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

By RHYS STRATTON

No meeting between Rosslyn Park and Richmond is ever an uneventful affair, and Saturday’s early season clash was no exception. The match was a monstrously physical one that saw both sides throwing, and landing, haymakers throughout and it culminated in yet another thrilling finish.

After a tense first few minutes the visitors opened the scoring thanks to a Callum Grieve penalty from just inside the halfway line. However their lead didn’t last long as, just a few minutes later, the 1st XV set up a driving maul in a dangerous position that forced Richmond to concede a penalty trying to stop it. Playing with the advantage, the ball was pulled out of the maul and put through the hands which resulted in a sumptuous offload by Matt Gordon allowing Benji Marfo to cross over under the posts.

Ten minutes later the 1st XV were again on the attack and soon forced an infringement by the fullback, Grieve, who was pinged for a cynical offside. Making the most of the man advantage, the ball was worked to the right-hand side and James Cordy-Redden extended the lead as the winger exploited the new-found space out wide.

Richmond quickly responded with a well-worked try of their own that ended with their captain David Massey hitting a hard line to crash over. Then, in the final minutes of the half, the visitors piled on the pressure which first resulted in another 3-points from the boot of Grieve, then in the sin-binning of Josh Addams for an accumulation of penalties. Richmond took advantage of the card as they set up a maul from the subsequent penalty and crossed over through Callum Torpey.

The 1st XV were back on the front foot to start the second half and were able to regain a narrow lead through Josh Addams after Richmond’s Toby Saysell was shown a yellow for a no-arms tackle. When a loose clearing kick landed in the hands of Joe Luca Smith following the card, the elusive fullback beat a man and fed Addams who tiptoed down the touchline, avoiding a would-be tackler to dot down in the corner.

Yet another tense spell followed as Richmond desperately tried to edge in front once more. Late in the game, the visitors had two chances to re-take the lead from the tee however both penalties were missed from outside the 10m as the 1st XV worked to prevent the visitors from penetrating too far into Park territory.

However, in the dying moments, with the clock in the red, Richmond finally established themselves in the final third and were not wasteful with the opportunity. Outside half Lewis Dennett dropped back into the pocket and coolly slotted a clutch drop goal to rescue hard-fought win in this historic derby.

ROSSLYN PARK

Tries: Marfo (8’), Cordy-Redden (19’), Addams (62’)
Conversions: L. Smith (9’, 20’)
Penalties: N/A
Yellow Cards: Addams (39’)

Team: Cade, Miller, Charalambous, Gillanders, Stevenson, Bolwell, Hosking, Digby, Mulchrone, L. Smith, Marfo, Gordon, Stanton, Cordy-Redden, J. Smith

Replacements: Wade, Woodward, Wrafter, Fenley, Addams

RICHMOND

Tries: Massey (24’), Torpey (40’)
Conversions: Grieve (40’)
Penalties: Grieve (4’, 35’)
Yellow Cards: Grieve (18’), Saysell (54’)

Richmond: Bevacqua, Torpey, Spring, Monson, Nugent, Benson, Saysell, Schmid, Schwarz, Dennett, Obonna, Massey, Dardis, O’Meara, Grieve,

Replacements: Goffey, Freeman, Wills, Marsh, S. Smith

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Bishop’s Stortford 10 – 39 Blackheath
Darlington Mowden Park 28 – 45 Rotherham Titans
Dings Crusaders 46 – 29 Plymouth Albion
Esher 24 – 43 Rams
Leicester Lions 7 – 21 Birmingham Moseley
Sale FC 24 – 18 Sedgley Park

Matchweek 2 saw Sale and Dings Crusaders emerge as the only two victorious home sides with the National One newcomers announcing their arrival with an impressive win over Plymouth. Elsewhere, Blackheath, Rams and Birmingham Moseley all picked up away wins and Rotherham continued their strong start with a rout of DMP up in Darlington.

Up Next for Park is another London derby as the 1st XV travel to across the capital to face old foes Blackheath.