Lyons takes centre stage after Eden’s early exit

NOTTINGHAM playmaker Gearoid Lyons’ class made the difference as both teams struggled at a swamp-like Athletic Ground.

The Green & Whites adapted better to the conditions, sealing a season double in their first win at Richmond since the mid-1990s.

Inside centre Lyons moved to fly-half after Bristol-bound Tiff Eden went off early with food poisoning, and scythed through Richmond’s line for his side’s second try before a beautifully taken cross-field kick to wing Will Robinson gave them an unassailable lead.

Lyons said: “It was our third game in these kind of conditions so that’s helped. We kept it tight, built the phases and used our kicking game to our advantage.

“Tiff came into the game with a knock so I also prepared at 10 and felt comfortable after he went off. There was a lot of rejigging but we dealt with it well.”

The poor weather caused a slow start with an aerial battle ensuing.

A Nottingham catchand-drive on Richmond’s 22 led to six phases before centre Joe Cobden slipped past the midfield defence and gave a last second offload to fullback Sean Scanlon to score in the left corner.

Richmond blew any chance of a counter-score losing three of four lineouts in Nottingham territory.

After Eden and wing Jack Spittle (leg) went off, Richmond scrum-half Luc Jones looked to have scored after a drivingmaul but for was ruled out for accidental offside.

Nottingham No.8 Jordan Coghlan came close on the half-hour mark and after patient phase-play scrum-half Darryl Veenendaal slipped the ball to a quick-paced Lyons who slid over at the posts.

After half-time Richmond had a period of pressure in Nottingham’s half but ill-discipline, conceding five penalties in a row, and weak scrummaging, put paid to any points.

Nottingham then put 20 phases together to push Richmond into their 22 before Lyons’ perfectly weighted punt found Robinson to dot down.

Richmond had a late resurgence with Will Goodrick-Clarke and Tobias Saysell both crossing in the corner.

Richmond captain Will Warden said: “You can’t play in those conditions, it shouldn’t have been played. It was a nutritional battle, we got schooled a bit in the first-half but I can’t fault our effort.”