With a record crowd of 1,829 at Old Bath Road, the rain swept in as National One’s top two prepared for kick-off, the hosts making a poor start as they were unable to exit cleanly from the kick-off.

The Londoners pinned their opponents in their own 22, and following a series of carries from close range, No. 8 Sam Pim crashed over next to the left-hand post.

Callum Grieve knocked over what would ultimately prove the decisive conversion, Richmond continuing to come on strong before the full-back missed a straightforward penalty attempt to extend their advantage.

The visitors spent most of the opening 40 minutes in their opponents’ half – Rams limited to two half-chances via a maul and penalty for a late dip into a tackle midway inside the 22 – but a couple of handling errors and some fabulous defence ensured it remained 7-0 at the interval.

Both sides continued to nullify each other in the third quarter, the defences outstanding and dominant.

Yet Rams gave themselves a lifeline in the shape of substitute Mikey Duda, the flanker scoring with his first touch of the National One season as the ball shot out of a Richmond-five-metre scrum for the youngster to dive on it for a roof-raising 72nd-minute score.

Fraser Honey’s conversion attempt was caught by the wind and drifted right, and Richmond turned the screw by going through the phases as they ran the clock down.

The hosts gave themselves one last chance as Axel Kalling-Smith charged down the right, but the Londoners earned a breakdown penalty before Lewis Dennett booted the ball out to seal the deal.

Final Score: Rams 5–7 Richmond

Scorers

Rams

Try: Duda 72

Richmond

Try: Pim 4

Conversion: Grieve 5

Star Man: George Nugent (Richmond)

Referee: Jamie Parr

Attendance: 1,829

Rams

(15-9, 1-8) Lamb, Clow, Radianirova, Grundy, Kalling-Smith, Honey, Murray; Harris, MacRae, Baker, Stapley ©, Swain, Stone, Vooght, McRae