With the colts reaching the final of the National Plate Competition and the heavies winning their league, the first XVs impressive completion of a double over Canterbury made for a very satisfactory Saturday.

On dry ground as far removed from the quagmire of Lydney as is possible, Richmond ran up a thoroughly deserved 28-0 half time lead to leave a shell shocked Canterbury with only pride to play for in the second half.

Led out by the deserving Tristan Wesley, making his 100th first team appearance, Richmond started strongly and never relented in an impressive first half performance.

Canterbury started up the slight slope, facing a difficult sun, and their opponents lost no chance to pepper their defence with high balls in the opening minutes.

Importantly, the Richmond scrum established an early superiority, providing vital momentum at the scrum and always making good ground in the loose with effective driving round the fringes.

Gavin Hart and Peter Clarke were both prominent in a strong back row performance.

The first try was scored after eight minutes and stemmed from good work by Clarke at the tackle.

From a line out the outstanding Henry Head caught well, setting up a strong forward’s drive, from which Ed Rosa emerged to hand on to Luke Cousins.

Fly half Cousins forced his way through two tackles to find Gavin Hart supporting well on the inside for a well worked try.

With Matt Hart a late withdrawal, Cousins took the kicking duties and maintained an admirable 100% record.

Richmond should have scored a second try when Nick Moore was put clear with one man to beat and support on his shoulder but the moment was lost.

However the backs were looking full of running and the interplay was frequently pulling the Canterbury defence out of line.

It was entirely consistent with the run of play that Joe Brown made the second try after twenty two minutes and it was a high class effort.

From another strong scrum, the back row picked up and put Brown into space.

The winger dummied to pass inside, accelerated outside and then timed his pass beautifully to full back Johnny Wehbe.

The third try was even better. Cousins started the move within his own 22, setting up David West, who made a storming run across field to the half way line.

The forwards supported well and quick ball was moved on by the dexterous Head and then Alastair Lyon, breaking all the rules of the old front row union with a gallop through the centre, timing his pass well to Wehbe, who finally found Brown on his inside for a quite breathtaking try.

On the hard ground, both sides were playing ambitious rugby and Richmond were grateful to Moore for a fine covering tackle when Canterbury broke quickly.

But generally the rush Richmond defence, with Alex Maclennan outstanding, was very effective, bottling up any Canterbury attacks and forcing errors.

From one such moment, the home side lost possession on the half way line and the alert West picked up and ran in at pace from forty-five metres.

A minute before half time, a frustrated Canterbury self destructed further with the yellow carding of hooker Tom Rogers after a spot of handbags.

Once again Richmond took no advantage from their extra numbers and a revitalised Canterbury made the early running in the second half, deserving their try after four minutes, flanker Peter Kelly forcing his way through tackles after a succession of penalties.

Play was now much more evenly balanced as Canterbury enjoyed the more favourable elements and Richmond slowed their pace in the sapping sunshine with bonus points ‘in the bag’.

Both sides had chances, the elusive Michael Melford on the Canterbury wing looking full of running. However it was the away side, who finally scored next after twenty seven minutes, when a strong forward drive following a line out resulted in Tom George emerging triumphant from a pile of bodies.

With substitutes (including debutant James Greenwood) replacing some tired bodies, Canterbury completed the scoring with another Peter Kelly effort, powering over from a set scrum.

Maclennan made one last lung bursting break through the middle but the excellent Wehbe, so skilled at beating his man in tight space, could not quite complete the move.

Nevertheless the final score of 14-35 made happy and deserved reading for a Richmond side, now more settled and looking much more confident on the hard ground.

Next week Richmond complete their first fifteen season with a home game against Dings Crusaders, mid table rivals who squeezed a victory over Richmond in the very first league game of the long season. Kick off at the Athletic Ground is 3pm.

Try: G.Hart, Wehbe, Brown, West, George

Conversions: Cousins (5)

Team: J.Wehbe, D.West, N.Moore (J.Greenwood), A.Maclennan, J.Brown, L.Cousins, T.Henry (C.Jackson) A.Lyon (G.Blackborow), E.Rosa (J.Clapson), D.Marfo , H.Head (C), T.Wesley , T.George, G.Hart, P.Clarke (T.Sadler).