Richmond claim dramatic comeback win

By TIM FORRESTER

Richmond……….27pts

Tries: Bright 55, 61, 67; Carrick Smith 79

Conversions: Kane 67, 80

Penalties: Kane 22

Nottingham ……24pts

Tries: Hollingsworth 9, Creed 32, Williams 48

Conversions: Hollingsworth 10, 33, 49

Penalties: Hollingsworth 43

THREE Richmond tries in the final 25 minutes turned a game which Nottingham were dominating on its head.

Two yellow cards for Richmond galvanised the team and the final try, by Will Carrick-Smith, came in the last action of the game after a period of relentless pressure.

Richmond head coach Rob Powell said: “An outstanding effort from where we were. The belief, fight and character shown were tremendous.”

Fresh from a strong win over Ampthill, Nottingham looked confident in their first-half play while Richmond seemed indecisive and prone to error.

Fly-half Sam Hollingsworth got the first score after nine minutes, finding a gap from lineout ball, chipping ahead and beating the cover to the touch down. Richmond then had a period of pressure but had to settle with a penalty from full-back James Kane.

It was not enough to steady Richmond nerves and, just after the half hour, a break by winger David Williams was backed up by Michael Stronge who sent in Elliott Creed for the try. Richmond were glad to reach half-time without another score but conceded another penalty early in the second half and Hollingsworth extended the lead.

After 48 minutes, the Greens' forwards did the groundwork in the 22 before Stronge threw out a long pass to find Williams clear in space wide out. Hollingsworth added an excellent conversion.

With Hamish Graham already off the field with a yellow card, Ntinga Mpiko joined him in the 49th minute.

With Richmond surely facing a heavy defeat, the momentum of the game now switched. Kane was a constant threat, especially with his big left boot and he set up his side five metres out – Mark Bright the familiar try scorer.

The 13 players hung on until their numbers were restored and then claimed a second try from another five-metre lineout, Bright again the scorer. Now, at 13-24, the door was open.

Richmond were dominating everything and after 66 minutes, Bright had his hat-trick from another lineout.

Nottingham still held a four point lead as the clock ticked close to 80 minutes but another penalty set up a final chance. Backs and forwards poured in to get the drive moving from another line out, and Richmond claimed the victory.

Nottingham coach Craig Hammond said: “We have to be more clinical. It's disappointing but we have to learn from these games.”