Richmond Women have cantered to the Premiership title for the first time in 13 years after winning their last three games.

Tries from Fran Matthews, Alice Richards, Laura Jenkins, Amy Turner and Rebecca Essex saw them beat Wasps 34-10 last weekend, adding to a 56-5 win over Bristol and a 29-10 success over bogey side Saracens.

Head coach Karen Findlay said: “I am delighted for the players and all our coaching staff who have worked really hard all season.

“It has been two seasons worth of building a team and letting their ability and talent produce a brand of rugby we can all be proud of and is exciting for spectators to come and watch.”

Essex, Turner, Rachel Burford and Kay Wilson get the tries against Saracens and Findlay believes that success was pivotal to winning the title.

“One of the most important factors in the success of this season has been our defensive efforts,” she added.

“We have only conceded 64 points in our 13 matches so far, which is one hundred points less than our nearest league competitors.”

Richmond remain the only unbeaten side in this season’s premiership and go into their last game of the season against Darlington Mowden Park Sharks this weekend.

A win against Sharks will put them over 15 points clear at the top of the table and they are hoping to end the season on a high.

Findlay said: “It is game 14 and we have gone into every match treating it as the next game and one that needs as much focus and effort to achieve a win as the last one has required.

“It is going to be a very tough match as Sharks have a great record of winning at home.

“We are under no illusions that this will be anything but a fiercely contested match.

“That said, we are going with the intention of finishing this job off, and retaining our unbeaten record for the season, which will be fantastic achievement given the standard of competition there is in the Women’s Premiership.”

Richmond play Darlington Mowden Park this Saturday 17th April at Darlington Mowden Park RFC, Durham, kick off 2pm.