Bright scores his 15th try as Richmond dig in

RICHMOND climbed to eighth in the table after a deserved win over Hartpury.

With a diagonal wind posing constant problems, both sides made countless errors as they tried to run the ball and Richmond head coach Rob Powell was pleased to get over the line.

“I don’t think we played particularly well,” he said. “We have played some recent games in poor conditions and it took a while to adjust to firmer ground. It’s good to get a win – any win at this level is huge, and the boys dug in really well.”

Richmond dominated the first quarter, running up a ten point lead. Hartpury put themselves under pressure kicking dead and providing field position. Richmond took advantage, buoyed by a scrum penalty, but there was still plenty to do when Lennox Anyanwu received the ball on halfway. The big centre showed a turn of speed as he accelerated away, with winger Owain James distracting defenders outside him. Anyanwu needed no help in the end, cutting in to complete a fine solo try.

James Kane missed the conversion but added a penalty after another Hartpury scrum offence.

Richmond looked to be in good control, but missing touch with another penalty cost them dear. Hartpury countered well, James Williams made a telling break and the move was completed by winger Matt McNab in the corner. Williams added a fine conversion.

The game was now end to end and, when Hartpury got within five metres of the line, Mark Bright was yellow carded. Hartpury maintained the impetus and, parked on the home line, made it count with a

sharp-witted poacher’s try by JB Bruzulier.

Richmond dominated the first ten minutes of the second half, and it was inevitably skipper Bright who claimed his fifteenth try of the season when Richmond drove from a lineout. Both sides had chances after this, routinely opening up from within their 22s. The home defence probably made the difference, cutting down Hartpury attacks time and again and forcing errors.

The game was finally decided in the 66th minute when Jared Cardew made a half break, neatly put through a gap by James Stafford. Kane was well up in support and the move was eventually completed by Will Carrick-Smith.

Hartpury head coach John Barnes said: “A really disappointing performance by us, but credit to Richmond. In the first half, we played some good rugby, but we should have got more points on the board.”