When the Ealing game was lost to the weather in December, it was rearranged for early February, leaving Richmond with the daunting challenge of playing the top two teams in successive weeks.

With Jersey, by contrast, having a week’s break to prepare and defending an unbeaten home record of nearly two years, Richmond needed to be at their very best to take the points.

In the event, they competed vigorously for half this game but had to accept second best in the end to a physically imposing and confident Jersey side who ran out convincing winners by 29-9.

Richmond had run Ealing very close in the previous week but the intensity of the match left a lot of niggles and bruises among the line up at Jersey.

After a number of late injury tests, there were ultimately two changes to the starting line up, Nick Barrett replacing Will Browne and John Chance replacing Guillaume Schueller, with Chris Davies moving to No 8. Richmond started with a slight advantage from a strong breeze.

The game started at a fast pace and never really relented. Richmond were grateful to James Brooks’ safe hands for two early catches under pressure as Jersey sought to impose themselves on the game.

However it was Richmond who claimed the first points as Jersey were penalised for a dangerous tackle and Ross Broadfoot calmly stroked over the penalty.

Unfortunately the lead did not last long as Michael Le Bourgeois countered with a penalty for his side, after Richmond were penalised at the first scrum.

On a proud day when one ex Richmond prop replaced another ex Richmond prop in the England team, the Richmond front row had to work hard all game against the powerful opposition scrum.

After ten minutes, the Islanders took the lead with an excellent try, their full back coming into the line at pace to set late replacement Ed Dawson haring down the line for the touch down.

The big crowd, who lined Jersey’s impressive new ground, roared approval as Le Bourgeois added a good conversion.

Richmond responded well and looked focussed and disciplined under the pressure. They did not chase the game but steadily began to probe the Jersey defence.

An early line out steal offered encouragement and a beautifully judged cross kick by Broadfoot was tantalisingly close to putting Nick Barrett clear.

After fifteen minutes, Broadfoot added a second penalty as Jersey were penalised for pulling down the maul.

Five minutes later, Richmond added three more points as Andrew Henderson was yellow carded for obstruction, his team having just been warned about previous tackling infringements.

With Broadfoot looking in good kicking form, Jersey appeared slightly rattled and Richmond had ten minutes to make their extra man count.

The Islanders opted to retain their eight forwards and leave themselves one short in the backs.

With the powerful Jersey eight denying Richmond quick ball, the backs had limited opportunities to turn territorial advantage into points.

There were two close calls, one a neat break by Brooks which ended with his kick and chase just going out of play and one a well rehearsed backs move penalised for crossing by experienced referee Keith Lewis.

Nevertheless Jersey held out well and retained the lead of 10-9 at half time, Broadfoot going short with one late, very ambitious penalty attempt.

Both sides started the second half slightly nervously, Jersey knocking on from the kick off and Richmond over throwing a well placed line out.

But the game changed decisively in the eighth minute when Tristan Wesley was yellow carded for foul play as the forwards fronted up.

One man down, Richmond needed to dig really deep to get through the next ten minutes and Jersey, for their part, needed to use their extra weight to get points on the board. Within two minutes, Jersey had their momentum as Le Bourgeois added another penalty.

The Jersey scrum now looked in full control as Richmond showed the effects of two gruelling high intensity matches in a row.

Jersey were playing good, confident rugby, their forwards running straight and hard and the backs profiting from quick possession to show slick hands and good pace.

After twenty-four minutes, they scored their second try, the flying Dawson running in another good try in the corner.

Le Bourgeois added another penalty for offside and replacement fly half Dan Hawkes chipped a drop goal.

Sporadically, Richmond did break out of defence but support from tired legs was generally too slow and crucial passes went astray, too often back into Jersey hands.

From one such situation, James Copsey added his side’s third and last try in the 79th minute.

There were a lot of exhausted Richmond players at the end and several walking wounded. They had battled gamely but a fresh and well organised Jersey side were too strong at their home fortress and deserve every credit for an impressive performance.

With the Vikings, Heavies and Ladies all victorious in their Island games, there were compensations for the club and there are doubtless plenty of twists and turns to come in the National League, especially if Richmond can now refocus and resume their winning habits.

Penalties: Broadfoot (3) Team: J.Brooks, J.Greenwood , T.Gregory , N.Moore, N.Barrett (T.Platt), R.Broadfoot (T.Drewe), T.Henry, M.Berry, D.Simmons(D.Burr), O.Gregory , T.Wesley, J.Chance, T.George( J.Trayfoot), C.Davies, G.Thompson.