Chinnor 55-26 Richmond ( att : 976 ) - 2023/24 National League One

November 25, 2023

Today’s visitors to Kingsey Road were Richmond, one of the oldest Rugby clubs in England and one of the traditional famous names in English club rugby.

After their home loss to Plymouth Albion two weeks ago, Chinnor bounced back to win 26-7 at one of their bogey grounds, Bishop’s Stortford, to move back to 2^nd in the table, two points behind leaders Rams.

Richmond Background

Founded in 1861, Richmond were placed in Courage League National League Division Two when league structures were introduced in 1986/87, and were in Division Three when they became the first fully professional side in the country in 1996. With signings such as England internationals Ben Clarke & Brian Moore, Welsh Internationals Allan Bateman and brothers Scott and Craig Quinnell, as well as Argentinian scrum-half Augustin Pichot, they achieved promotion to the top level for 1997/98. Ultimately though, the heavy spending led to club going into administration in 1999 and having to restart again at the bottom of the pyramid.

Richmond have since worked their way through the leagues to earn promotion to the second tier Championship for the 2016/17 season, and as the only part-time side in the division they played three seasons before being relegated back down to National League One.

Richmond only spent one season back in the third level, earning promotion after the 2019/20 season was curtailed due to Covid. After three more seasons in the second tier, Richmond were relegated again in 2022/23, although they attracted a lot of sympathy from the neutrals after London Scottish won their last three matches to overtake Richmond, bolstered by a large number of Harlequins players.

I have once visited Richmond’s Athletic Ground in South-West London, attending a match against Waterloo in November 1996 in Division Two, the season Richmond won the league. Entrance for an adult non-member was £8, the programme was £2 and Richmond won 64-13. For some reason, I even bought a Richmond tie, although I can’t recall ever wearing it !

Their line-up that day included both Quinnells, Clarke, Moore, Bateman plus Irish international full back Simon Mason, England lock Richard West, Welsh international scrum-half Andy Moore and Rugby League returnee Jim Fallon.

I don’t remember much about the match, apart from whenever there was a successful conversion the tannoy played Roy Orbision’s “It’s Over” !

 

Richmond This Season

Richmond were many pundit’s tip to win National League One this season but they have made a disappointing start to the season, with 5 wins and 5 losses to start the day in 7^th place.

Last week they recorded an eye-catching 36-22 victory over league leaders Plymouth Albion, who had looked impressive in winning at Chinnor the week before. However, prior to that, their only wins had been against the bottom four sides in the table ; Taunton ( A 29-14 ), Bishop’s Stortford ( H 50-40 ), Leicester Lions ( A 35-22 ) and Sale ( A 24-15 ).

They had been defeated at Sedgley Park and Blackheath, and at home to Rosslyn Park, Darlington Mowden Park and Cinderford.

Fly-half Sean Kerr was their top point scorer with 48 points and hooker Alexander Post, who is apparently an international for Hong Kong, had scored 8 tries. The most recognisable name in their squad was probably ex-Ealing and London Scottish Number 8 Mark Bright, although South African Prop Ntinga Mpiko had represented Leinster.

Previous Meetings

The two sides have met on four previous occasions, with Richmond coming out on top in all of them. In Chinnor’s first ever season at the 4^th level of English rugby in 2008/09, they lost 21-35 at home and 21-23 at the Athletic Ground as Richmond finished 4^th in the league and Chinnor were relegated.

In the aborted 2019/20 season, Richmond won 26-14 at home, and in a game featured in these diaries, they were victorious 21-5. The match was a lot closer than the scoreline would suggest as Richmond’s greater experience and nous saw them through. Richmond were champions whilst Chinnor were placed 4^th

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Matchday Information

The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was sunny with clear blue skies, but the temperature had fallen to a chilly 4 degrees and the floodlights were already on. Pints of Guinness were obligatory in order to stay warm !

Chinnor’s squad today contained three survivors from the last meeting in 2019, wing Kieran Goss, prop Josh McNulty and Number 8 Willie Ryan. For Richmond, only prop Jimmy Litchfield remained from their team in 2019 but he was only a substitute today. Number 8 Mark Bright was missing from their squad and was incredibly down to play in their Second XV, and Sean Kerr was also only the bench.

However, 10 of their starting XV played for Richmond in the Championship last season and centre Thomas Hitchcock played for Ampthill on loan from London Irish. Centre Henry Cheeseman was part of the Rosslyn Park side that were hammered 48-12 at Chinnor in January in Nick Easter’s first match in charge.

Richmond were playing in their traditional yellow, red and black hoops with black shorts whilst Chinnor were in their usual home kit of black and white.

Match Report

Richmond kicked off towards the ring-road end and Chinnor full-back Feeney cleared to the half-way line. Chinnor won the Richmond throw and after spreading the ball wide won a penalty advantage for a high tackle on centre Bourton. Prop Hardwick went on a rampaging run only to be tackled a few metres short of the try-line but another penalty was awarded.

Chinnor kicked to the corner, Merrick won the line-out and the rolling maul rumbled forward and over the try-line. Hooker Walker was credited with the score and fly-half Worboys converted to make in 7-0 after 4 minutes.

Richmond restarted and a high kick in return from Chinnor incredibly saw a Richmond player attempt to fly-hack the ball on the half volley rather than to try and catch it, and Chinnor fly-half Worboys gathered and broke through some non-existent tackling to score under the posts. Worboys converted his own try to take the score to 14-0 with barely 7 minutes on the clock.

The visitors then enjoyed a spell of possession but were unable to get over the half-way line, and after a period of kick tennis, a Richmond fumble allowed Bourton to pick up on half-way and head for the try-line only to be tackled just short of the line. However, the off-load presented a simple trundle over the line for lock Merrick. Worboys made a great conversion from close to the touch-line so it was already 21-0 with barely 12 minutes played.

Chinnor knocked on shortly after the restart for the first scrum of the match 10 metres inside the Richmond half. Centre Cheeseman made a good break but perhaps unwisely opted to chip ahead to the Chinnor defensive cover, but after a return kick to half-way Richmond won a penalty and kicked to the corner.

Richmond won their line-out ball but were held up by an infringement from the home side. Again, Richmond went to the corner and after several drives Chinnor infringed again to prevent the try. This time Richmond took a quick tap and drove a number of times at the Chinnor line, but eventually scrum-half Luc Jones spotted a gap to dive over from close range near to the posts, and Ted Landray added the extras to bring the score to 21-7 after 20 minutes.

Chinnor pressed from the restart but a forward pass led to another Richmond scrum. Despite a good shove from the Chinnor pack, Richmond were able to get the ball away, but after kicking down the throat of Chinnor full-back Feeney, Richmond could only kick the return out on the full.

Chinnor won their line-out ball, but after a good break, Bourton’s grubber kick went dead before wing Gillespie could get to it for a 22 metre drop-out for Richmond.

Chinnor showed good hands from the drop-out and centre Morgan Passman was too strong for some flimsy defending, and scorched in from close to half-way and over in the corner for the bonus point try. Worboys again made a superb conversion from the touchline to take the score to 28-7 after 25 minutes.

Richmond had another scrum on their 10 metre line but Chinnor were awarded the penalty when the scrum collapsed. Chinnor kicked to 10 metres from the Richmond try-line, and after securing their ball won another penalty for a dangerous tackle. This time the line-out from 5 metres was won by Brockschmidt and after handing off to scrum-half Carter, a delightful move between Bourton and Worboys saw the Bath loanee run under the posts, and Worboys converted his own try to increase Chinnor’s lead to 35-7 after 35 minutes.

Richmond responded with a good break down the blind side from a scrum, but wing Hamish Graham knocked on in the tackle inside the Chinnor 22. Although Chinnor won their scrum they were forced into touch.

Richmond won their line-out but after a succession of drives at the Chinnor try-line, the defence was good and the home side won a penalty. The kick to touch brought an end to the first-half with Chinnor having a commanding 35-7 lead, with most home supporters wondering how on earth Richmond had last week beaten a Plymouth side that had looked so good two weeks earlier at Chinnor ! Chinnor President Simon Vickers even came over to say hello to Fatbear !

Richmond twice failed to find touch from the second-half restart and after a return kick from Chinnor, the Richmond catcher was tackled and pinged for not releasing. After some verbal dissent, Richmond were marched back 10 yards. The penalty was kicked to 5 metres and after Chinnor won their line-out ball, hooker Walker dived over. The conversion from Worboys drifted narrowly wide but it was now 40-7 with 43 minutes on the clock.

Richmond brought on three substitutions but it didn’t immediately help as their restart was kicked straight out for a Chinnor scrum on the half-way line. Chinnor’s backs unleashed a flowing movement to slice through the visitor’s defence for Passman to dot down.  Worboys missed his second conversion of the day so the score stood at 45-7.

With the result a foregone conclusion, Richmond finally started to get into the game. Centre Hitchcock made a great break only to be illegally thwarted, and after the subsequent penalty was kicked to the corner, several drives from the Richmond pack saw them cross the whitewash but the scorer was not announced. Landray slotted the conversion to take the scoreline to 45-14 after 47 minutes.

Chinnor’s response to conceding a second try was to launch another slick back’s move and after passes involving Passman and Carter, an inside pass enabled substitute Nick Smith to canter over the try-line. Worboys missed a relatively straight-forward conversion, but nevertheless it was now 50-14 after 50 minutes.

Richmond were perhaps a shade unlucky when a short line-out move was pinged by the referee for the throw not going 5 metres, then when Richmond won the scrum against the head, the referee was not happy and ordered a scrum re-set.

Richmond did win a penalty at the subsequent scrum, but despite kicking to the corner, Chinnor again won the line-out from the Richmond throw and scrum-half Carter was able to clear. After Richmond won their line-out ball, they moved from right to left in the backs but wing Graham was forced into touch 5 metres out.

Chinnor won their line-out ball but Richmond were finally exerting some concerted pressure on the home side. After winning a scrum penalty on the Chinnor 22, Richmond chose to kick to the left-hand corner when most sides kick down the slope to the right-hand corner, and only succeeded in kicking the ball dead for a drop-out on the Chinnor 22 metre line.

Play then became frantic with both sides having chances. A chip ahead from Richmond fly-half Landry bounced kindly for centre Cheeseman, who won another penalty, but although they this time kicked to the bottom right-hand corner, Richmond infringed at the line-out.

However, the visitors maintained the pressure inside the Chinnor 22 and won another penalty to return to 5 metres from the Chinnor line. Unfortunately, again the Richmond line-out was butchered and Chinnor’s backs launched another blistering attack only to be thwarted when Passman’s pass was knocked on. Richmond’s fly-half Landry set-off on a counter-attack only for the move to be halted by a Chinnor infringement near the half-way line.

Richmond again failed to find touch and the Chinnor counter-attack resulted in a period of frantic end-to-end play. Another Richmond attack was halted by a foul on wing O’Meara as he headed towards the try-line and this time the Richmond pack won their line-out. They were again held-up and forced into touch but the referee awarded another penalty. This time they opted for the quick tap and despite being held-up several times, eventually their forwards barged over, hooker Post getting the credit, and the conversion from Kerr took the score to 50-21 with 7 minutes remaining.

From the restart, Chinnor looked to have won turnover ball but the penalty was awarded to Richmond, who kicked to the Chinnor 10 metre line. Again, Richmond failed to win their line-out ball and after a sweeping Chinnor move to the right, then to the left, wing Gillespie crossed for a try. However, for some reason that wasn’t obvious, the try was disallowed and Richmond had a penalty inside their 22.

Richmond kicked to their 10 metre line, but again lost their line-out ball, and after Chinnor pressed through the middle, this time the pass to the right wing saw Gillespie score, and this time the try stood.  With the conversion again being missed, Chinnor now led 55-21 with two minutes remaining to be played.

The Richmond side had already move to their positions for the restart even before the conversion had been attempted as they needed to maximise the remaining time in order to score their 4^th try to obtain a bonus point. Chinnor won the restart and kicked deep into the Richmond 22 but after two knock-ons the scrum was awarded to Richmond.

The visitors desperately tried to run from everywhere but failed to get out of their 22. Out of the blue Kerr made a fabulous break and after an offload to Graham, an outside pass gave Hitchcock the opportunity to run in from out wide. Although the conversion was missed it mattered little, as Richmond had secured a try bonus point with the score moving to 55-26.

The final whistle brought another fabulous National League One game to an end, and again demonstrated the unpredictability of the league. After losing to Plymouth, Chinnor had thumped a side that had comfortably beaten Plymouth, and recorded their first ever victory over Richmond.

The positions at the top of the table stayed unchanged with Rams, Chinnor, Plymouth and Sedgley Park all winning. Richmond remained in 7^th.

Highlights : https://www.facebook.com/ChinnorRFCThame/videos/450718670644554