After a wonderful game of intensive, bruising rugby, full of twists and turns, Richmond deservedly emerged the winners to spoil top of the table visitors Jersey’s proud record of one defeat in the last 16 months.

It was a magnificent game and a big, abrasive Jersey side never conceded an inch but Richmond matched them physically all the way and ultimately won the game with their extra creativity and fitness.

Richmond showed one change from the game against Westcombe Park, Nick Moore coming back from injury to replace Euan Sadden.

The early minutes were dominated by kicking, as both sides tested defences in a tricky cross wind. Jersey soon showed their intentions, electing to kick a penalty to touch and to use their powerful pack to try to batter their way over the line.

Richmond came under immense pressure as the visitors patiently picked and drove, looking to find a gap in the defence.

There was none and, finally, Richmond escaped, working their way into the opposition 22 for the first time after fifteen minutes.

Three minutes later, Nick Moore made a half break, putting Tom Hayman into space and a Toby Henry grubber had Jersey clinging on to concede a penalty. Ross Broadfoot obliged to give Richmond a 3-0 lead.

Richmond now upped their game and, in the following quarter of an hour, had their best spell of the first half.

A Broadfoot cross kick was fractionally too deep to set up a try and Richmond had to be content with a second penalty after half an hour, Jersey simultaneously losing centre Andrew Henderson to a yellow card.

To their credit, Jersey simply redoubled their efforts and allowed no advantage to Richmond. The strong running Donovan Sanders made a good break and Richmond were indebted (as they were again later) to James Brooks’ strong tackling at full back.

Two penalties by Michael Le Bourgeois then brought the scores level and gave Jersey the temporary momentum, though the Richmond front row will have enjoyed bossing the last scrum of the half.

If Jersey had finished the first half slightly stronger, Richmond had just the start they needed for the second, when the visitors were penalised for blocking at the kick off, and a Broadfoot penalty gave his side the lead.

Five minutes later, Richmond extended their lead with their first try. From a line out, the ball was worked out to the right wing, pulling in some of the Jersey defence.

When the ball was recycled, Broadfoot made a smart break, creating an overlap as Chris Davies and James Greenwood handed on to Guy Thompson, who made no mistake to dive over in the corner.

The 14-6 lead did not last long, as Le Bourgeis kicked his third penalty following a sniping run by busy scrum half Brendan O’Brien. It was still anyone’s game. But not for long.

After seventeen minutes, Richmond scored their second try to open up a ten point lead.

The try again originated on the right before Brooks, Tom Gregory and Hayman all made good ground. In space, hooker David Burr sent a long pass out to the left where once again flanker Guy Thompson was waiting.

This time he was confronted by two defenders but it made no difference as Thomson ducked and cut in to beat the final defenders for a wonderful try, amazingly his seventh of the season.

When Broadfoot added another penalty to take the score to 22-9, Richmond may have thought that they were home and dry. They were not.

As a squally shower beat down, a cussed Jersey side threw the kitchen sink at Richmond in search of another try.

With James Greenwood lying injured, the visitors put together their best move of the game and Charlie Clyde-Smith scored in the vacant right corner despite a strong corner tackle by Moore.

With the lead down to eight points, Jersey again used their heavy pack to batter the line. It seemed impossible that they would not score, as Richmond defended on their own line for several minutes at a time. But the Richmond defence was quite outstanding and a spirited Jersey pack just could not find a way through.

Finally, in the last ten minutes, the Richmond forwards established clear domination as Jersey tired. Broadfoot extended the lead with another penalty and the pack pinned the visitors into their 22 till the final whistle.

The excellent Tristan Wesley was elected man of the match but the whole team deserved an award for their part in a memorable game of rugby and Richmond’s fourth victory in a row.

Tries: Thompson (2) Penalties: Broadfoot (5) Team: J.Brooks, J.Greenwood (S.Rowlands), T.Gregory, N.Moore, J.Wehbe, R.Broadfoot, T.Henry, M.Berry, D.Burr, O.Gregory (D.Parkinson-blood),T.Wesley, C.Davies, G.Thompson, T.Hayman, T.George (J.Trayfoot), G. Schueller, D. Simmons