London Scottish 17-24 Richmond: Rob Powell’s side secure ‘home’ tie in relegation play-off

By Bluebell Nicholls

London Scottish …………..17pts

Tries: Clayton 9, Hyde 14, Bellis 56

Conversion: Wilstead 9

Richmond …………………….24pts

Tries: Jones 35, Savaiinaea 44, Nugent 59, Spring 68

Conversions: Grieve 44, 68

Richmond denied London Scottish their ‘home’ win for the most local of derbies and secured a five-point win and ‘home’ advantage for the relegation play-offs in two weeks’ time.

Richmond head coach Rob Powell remained stoic about the task ahead.

“Good to get the win, our defence in the last 20 minutes was outstanding,” he said. “Our goal was to get the home ground in the play-off fixture and we’ve secured that.

“The job is not done yet, but it puts us in a secure position.”

Match action

Scottish took the early lead, scoring two tries in the first quarter.

A jackal penalty allowed them to kick to the corner, before executing their set piece maul that rumbled over with half the backline piled in, and hooker Harry Clayton getting the score, converted by Tom Wilstead.

Their second try came through a turnover ball at the Richmond ruck, which was lifted to winger Hayden Hyde, who opened up down the left wing running over 60 metres to score.

The remainder of the first half was attritional and stuttering through continuity errors and injury time, including a severe head knock to Scottish fly-half Tom Wilstead that saw him stretched off 16 minutes in. Both teams had tries held up.

Just before half-time, Richmond’s captain Luc Jones sniped round the maul to get their first score.

Try time: Lima Savaiinara scoring for Richmond
PICTURE: Tim Forrester

Second half

Richmond levelled the game shortly into the second half, with Tomolima Savaiinaea doing well to stay on his feet as he crashed through three at the set-piece to get Richmond’s second try.

Callum Grieve’s conversion made the game 12 all. Scottish replied, a tap-and-go penalty under the posts worked for six short phases and drawing the advantage before working wide to Murray Bellis, who almost cruised down the left wing to score their third.

But Richmond began to ascend, George Nugent levelling the score again through the short phases and a sin bin for a late no arms late tackle sent Scottish’s Will Talbot-Davies off.

With Scottish down to 14, Richmond capitalised and a 22m maul rumbled all the way for Luke Spring to score. Converted by Grieve.

The local derby wasn’t without its tempers, and continuing scuffles and a sin bin for Chris Freeman saw Richmond finish the game a man down.

But solid defence and some questionable Scottish decision-making closed out the game for the ‘visitors’.

Disappointed Scottish head coach Joe Gray said: “We didn’t really fire a shot all day.

“We scored 17 points from not doing much. We played Richmond’s game for them and gave that opportunity to them and fair play they took it.”