Richmond RFC wrote:

Richmond 17 Connacht Eagles 38
richmondfc.co.uk/index.php/news/844-rich...7-connacht-eagles-38

After the high of league victory over the ‘auld’ enemy London Scottish, Richmond were brought sharply down to earth by Connacht Eagles in the third round of the B & I cup. Fielding a much changed side with just three starters from the previous week, Richmond lost the game in the opening 23 minutes, as the visitors raced to a 0-31 lead. Richmond will take some comfort from ‘winning’ the remaining hour of rugby but in truth Connacht were always the more impressive side, the speed and accuracy of their running lines constantly causing problems.

Richmond’s build up was not helped by an enforced late change, Nat Opedo being withdrawn, Cam Holenstein moving up from the bench and Alex Wood hastily tracked down for an unexpected outing. The day was bright but very cold, the temperature dropping as the game progressed.

The Eagles kicked off and enjoyed all the territory and possession for the first ten minutes. The Irish half backs impressed from the start, Conor McKeown’s excellent service from scrum half creating both space and urgency. The home defence held out through the initial moments and it was a scrum penalty, awarded by referee Sara Cox, which set up the opening score. From a line out just outside the home 22, the Irish pack made good ground, pulling in defenders. When flanker Naulia Dawai and hooker Pat O’Toole joined the maul, the defence was further stretched and No 8 Paul Boyle was able to take advantage to stretch over. McKeown added the conversion.

The second try followed three minutes later and followed a Richmond line out on the Irish 22. Dawai, always impressive with his strong running and offloading, broke back at speed, bouncing off tackles and ultimately creating space for full back Matt Byrne to brush off one last tackle and run clear under the posts, McKeown giving his side a 0-14 lead.

The next score followed a nightmare couple of minutes for Freddie Gabbitass, who was caught in two minds in possession and knocked on. Probably trying to compensate, the fly half was yellow carded a minute later for a deliberate knock on as he stretched to intercept. Connacht opted to top up their lead and McKeown now added a long penalty. Two more scores followed within the ten minute period, the first well scored by centre Kieran Joyce, waltzing back past three static defenders. And the second was another demonstration of the potency of Connacht’s attack. The initial break was made down the touchline, lovely long passes creating space and the outside man cutting in to maintain the momentum. Finally the pacey No 7 Sean Masterton raced into the 22 and, when caught, found fly half Andy Deegan in close support to dive over. Another McKeown conversion stretched the score to a sobering 0-31.

The first brake on the remorseless domination of the Eagles was a yellow card for Dawai. Cameron Hudson and Jono Woodward had both run well to set up in the Irish 22. Dawai slowed the move and Toby Saysell just failed to make the line as the defence re-grouped. Ali Chisholm opened the scoring with a straightforward penalty. Richmond now had several more chances but the Irish held out several five metre line outs and Woodward just failed to gather a low bounce, when clear, having kicked through a loose ball. The winger made full amends in the last minute of the half with an alert interception and set off for the line seventy metres out. This time nobody looked like catching him and Woodward completed his fifth score in three games. Chisholm added a good conversion.

Sadly, this good work was promptly undone when the kick off was knocked on and Connacht allowed to score the simplest of blindside tries round the side of the scrum. Winger Stacey Ili was the scorer, making the half time score 10-38. The second half prompted plenty of chances for both sides in a much more even contest but understandably cold hands and rafts of substitutions slowed the scoring. It should be added that Richmond raised their game in the last quarter, Gabbitass and Callum Grant directing operations, the ever willing Martin Freeman and Simon Edwards contributing good breaks.

Right at the end, Richmond set up camp five metres out and Connacht redoubled defensive efforts, referee Cox awarding a succession of five metre scrums and penalties. Richmond were not going to finish without claiming the final score and they succeeded in the final minute. With Man of the Match Will Goodrick-Clarke to the fore, forwards and backs hammered the line till Grant finally dummied to create a momentary gap in the defensive wall and dived deservedly over. Chisholm added the conversion and Richmond had finished a lot better than they started.
Steve Hill, Richmond FC Director of Rugby, commented;’ Our players will be disappointed with the scores they conceded in the first half. Connacht given time and space were very dangerous. Pleasingly our squad adjusted their work rate and accuracy after half time and to win the second half by two tries to one after being 31 points down showed the pride this Richmond squad contains. Next week in Galway we need the endeavour shown in the last forty minutes throughout the match’

Tries: Woodward, Grant
Conversions: Chisholm (2)
Penalties: Chisholm

Richmond:
A.Chisholm, J.Woodward (L.Outhwaite), C.Hudson,. J.Swann (C.Grant), M.Freeman, F.Gabbitass, R.Adamson, W.Goodrick-Clarke, J.Phipps (J.Townsend), C.C.Holenstein (A.Wood) M.Crawford, A.Humfrey, T.Saysell (S.Edwards), H.Edwards (A.Lee) ,T.Sargeant

Connacht
15-9) Matt Byrne, Adam Leavy, Kieran Joyce, Peter Robb, Stacey Ili, Andrew Deegan, Conor McKeon,
(1- Conan O’Donnell, Pat O’Toole, Conor Kenny, Cian Huxford, Gavin Thornbury, Naulia Dawai, Sean Masterson, Paul Boyle

Replacements (16-23): Callum Torpey, Denis Coulson, Jakub Woitjowicz, Dylan Tierney, Caoilin Blade, Steve Crosbie, Craig Ronaldson.

Followed it on Richmond's Twitter. Seemed we had it all wrapped up by half time at 31-3 and the 2nd half just played itself out. Important boost to morale after the hiding we got from Ealing plus we haven't won a game in this competition in a good while that I can recall. We have them at home next Sunday again. Another 5 pointer and we might have a half chance at a quarter final place depending on the other groups. Pity we let the game slip in Rotherham but Ealing hammered Rotherham away from home today so 2nd place in the pool still up for grabs.

Eagles won 38-17, haven't heard anything else yet!

It will be interesting to see how the pack and especially the front row get on. Hopefully we get to see all 3 for the senior team this season.

With the exceptions of Woodward, Gabbitass, Phipps & Saysell, that's pretty much their "A" team. At worst the Eagles should be able to put it up to them.

RICHMOND TEAM

15 Ali Chisholm
14 Martin Freeman
13 Cameron Hudson
12 James Swan
11 Jono Woodward
10 Freddie Gabbitass
9 Rhodri Adamson

1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
2 Jason Phipps
3 Nathaniel Opedo
4 Max Crawford
5 Alex Humfrey
6 Toby Saysell
7 Tom Sargeant (Capt)
8 Harry Edwards

16 Jamie Townsend
17 Jeremy Cunnew
18 Adam lee
19 Callum Grant
20 Luke Outhwaite
21 Simon Edwards
22 Cameron Holenstein

Is Kerins injured?

Eagles team
Kick-off 3:00pm:
(15-9) Matt Byrne, Adam Leavy, Kieran Joyce, Peter Robb, Stacey Ili, Andrew Deegan, Conor McKeon,

(1- Conan O’Donnell, Pat O’Toole, Conor Kenny, Cian Huxford, Gavin Thornbury, Naulia Dawai, Sean Masterson, Paul Boyle

Replacements (16-23): Callum Torpey, Denis Coulson, Jakub Woitjowicz, Dylan Tierney, Caoilin Blade, Steve Crosbie, Craig Ronaldson.